Introduction: Panax ginseng extract (P. gin.) is a well-known adaptogen reducing blood cortisone particularly during chronic stress. Yet, its effect on the structure of the cells of the adrenal cortex during stress was not well studied. So, the present investigation aimed to demonstrate the ultrastructural changes of adrenocortical zona fasciculata (Z. fas.) cells after chronic stress and to appraise the influence of co-administration of P. gin. extract.
Materials and Methods: Four groups of adult male albino rats (10 animals each). Group I (-ve control). Group II (+ve control) received the extract of P. gin. (100mg/kg/ day) orally. Group III was exposed daily for 150 minutes to immobilization stress. Group IV was exposed daily to immobilization stress and received the extract of P. gin. The experimental period was 14 consecutive days. At the end, rats from all groups were sacrificed & suprarenal glands were excised & processed for ultrastructural study. Morphometric measurements of lipid droplets (lipid ds.) in zona fasciculate cells (Z. fas.) were done and the data were statistically analyzed.
Results: Compared to group I, group II showed no structural differences. In group III, Z. fas. cells had deeply stained nuclei, few (lipid ds.) and cytoplasmic vacuolation in semithin sections. The mitochondria appeared disrupted with hardly seen smooth endoplasmic reticulum by electron microscopic examination. Group IV showed most cells with vesicular nuclei and many lipid ds. in the cytoplasm in semithin sections. By electron microscope, the mitochondria appeared mostly with vesicular cristae with cisterns of smooth endoplasmic reticulum nearby. Morphometric study revealed a statistically significant reduction in the numbers and areas of lipid ds. /field in group III compared to group I. Moreover, the numbers and areas of lipid ds. /field were significantly increased in group IV compared to group III.
Conclusion: Chronic immobilization stress leads to structural degenerative changes in Z. fas. cells of adult male albino rats which could be ameliorated by P. gin. extract co-administration, suggesting a favorable effect of P. gin. on Z. fas. cells on exposure to chronic stress.