Date of Award:

5-1-1997

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Reed P. Warren

Committee

Reed P. Warren

Committee

Carl D. Cheney

Committee

David B. Drown

Committee

John H. Huffman

Committee

Lanny J. Nalder

Abstract

Ginseng, an extract of the Panax ginseng plant, and exercise producing a heart rate of 82.5% of maximum were studied alone and in combination for effects on certain immune parameters in mice and young adult humans, and on development of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in mice. A motorized treadmill was used in the mouse experiments, with a clinical pulse oximeter adapted to monitor heart rates and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). Compared to infected controls whose death rate was 60%, orally administered ginseng (250 mg/kg/day) beginning 48 hours pre-CMV inoculation caused a 25% survivor increase. Exercise (six repetitions of running at 100 feet/min for 40 sec with 2-min rests, repeated every other day) induced 100% lethality. Survivors receiving the ginseng/exercise combination increased 33%. Virus titers recovered in various tissues from the infected mice were unaffected. Splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity was greater (statistical significance P < 0.01) in the infected animals receiving the combination than in those untreated, ginseng-treated, or exercised. Humans ingesting ginseng (26 mg/kg/day) for 7 days, exercised (six repetitions of running for 40 sec with 2-min rests), or receiving both ginseng and exercise were compared to those receiving neither for their blood NK and white blood cell (WBC) numbers. These were increased (P < 0.01) in the groups receiving exercise or the combination when assayed after exercise. A sustained increase in NK (P < 0.05) and WBC (P < 0.01) occurred 24 h after exercise in those receiving the combination. Ginseng only slightly increased either immune parameter. Humans undergoing 1 or 2 consecutive days of exercise had increased numbers (P < 0.01) of both NK and WBC after the final exercise was performed; however, exercise repeated a third day decreased the cells to below pre-exercise values. The influence of four increasing exercise stages on heart rate and SaO2 was compared in mice and humans. In both, similar patterns of heart rate increase and SaO2 decrease occurred as the intensity of exercise increased. In each, transiently increased SaO2 stages appeared midway through each exercise phase.

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