AIM: To study the effects of ginseng root saponins (GRS) on interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL6) expression in hippocampal neurons in chronic inflammation model of aged rats. METHODS: Chronic inflammation was induced by consecutive intraperitioneal injections of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in aged rats. The semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for determination of IL- 1β and IL-6 mRNA in hippocampal neurons of aged rats. RESULTS: No marked expression of IL-1βand IL-6 mRNA was found in hippocampal neurons of young rats (3 months). In adult rats (9 months) the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 expressed were 1.54 ±0.21 and 1.63 ± 0.21, respectively; in aged rats (24 months)treated with LPS the levels were 1.98±0.21 and 1.91 ±0.11 respectively, significantly higher than those of adult rats. After treatment with GRS (10, 20, 40 mg/kg),the IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA content in aged rats decreased markedly. CONCLUSION: The levels of IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA in hippocampal neurons increased with aging. GRS exerted inhibitory effects on IL-1β and IL-6gene expression in chronic inflammation model of aged rats.%目的：研究人参皂苷对大鼠海马IL-1β和IL-6 mRNA增龄性变化的影响，为进一步阐明人参皂苷的药理作用及应用于某些神经退行性疾病提供依据.方法：应用腹腔注入脂多糖造成慢性炎症刺激的老年大鼠模型，并以青年和成年大鼠为对照.用半定量反转录－聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法测定海马IL-1β和IL-6 mRNA含量.结果：大鼠海马IL-1β和IL-6 mRNA含量：青年组(3月龄)无表达；成年组(9月龄)分别为1.54±0.21和1.63±0.21；老年组(24月龄)分别为1.98±0.21和1.91±0.11；人参皂苷10mg/kg组分别为1.61±0.20和1.62±0.22；人参皂苷20mg/kg组分别为1.59±0.21和1.60±O.21；人参皂苷40mg/kg组分别为1.66±0.23和1.64±0.21.老年组和成年组相比较，P<0.01或P<0.05；人参皂苷不同剂量组和老年组相比较，P<0.05或P<0.01.结论：大鼠海马IL-1β和IL-6mRNA的表达水平随增龄而升高.人参皂苷能有效地抑制这一表达.
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