• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.63-73
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• 2002

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effects Samyoo-tang Extract (SE) on the vascular systems, including changes in blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods : The changes in rCBF were determined by Laser-Doppler flowmetry through the opened cranial method and norepinephrine (NE)-induced blood vessel contractions were determined by physiograph in the pulmonary artery of isolated rabbits. Results and Conclusion : 1. Contractions evoked by NE ($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by SE in the pulmonary artery. 2. SE inhibited the relaxation of NE induced contractions pretreated with propranolol. 3. SE did not inhibit the relaxation of NE induced contractions pretreated with ODQ and L-NNA. 4. Blood pressure was not affected by SE in rats. 5. rCBF was increased by SE in a dose-dependent manner. 6. Pretreatment with propranolol was increased by SE in a dose-dependent manner in blond pressure. 7. Pretreatment with methylene blue, ODQ and L-NNA did not inhibit SE induced increased in rCBF. These results indicate that SE can relax NE-induced contraction of rabbit blood vessels and increased the changes of rCBF in rats, that relate to the sympathetic nerve system.