The effects of sarsasapogenine （SAR）

an active principle of Anemorrhenae Rhizome （知母）on peripheral lymphocyte β-adrenoceptors （β-AR） and serum cortisol contents were studied in rabbit hydrocortison models produced by repeated injections of therapeutic doses of hydrocortisone. The lymphocyte β3-AR binding sites （SB） were measured with 125I-PIN binding assay and the serum cortisol contents were estimated with radioimmunoassay. Experimental data revealed that hydrocortisone treatment markedly elevated the lymphocyte SB （0.65±0.03 and 1.48±0.13 fmol/106 cells before and after treatment） as well as the serum cortisol （128±21 and 239±45 nmol/1 before and after treatment）. Oral administration of SAR for 6 days decreased the lymphocyte β-AR significantly （1.48±0.13 and 0.76±0.06 fmol/106 cells before and after administration）. On the contrary

SAR showed no significant effect on serum cortisol contents.. Therefore the down-regulation effect of SAR on peripherel lymphocyte β-AR

which might reflect one of the clinical effects of Anemorrhenae Rhizome for treating "Yin Deficiency"syndrome

is unlikely to be mediated through an influence on serum cortisol content.The mechanism of the down-regulation effect of SAR on peripheral lymphocyte β-AR remains to be studied.