Objective: To investigate the effect of Xiaoyao Wan (XYW) on the behavior and the content of brain neurotransmitters in mice with chronic restraint stress (CRS)

so as to provide some evidence for its clinical application. Method: Mice were restraint for 8 h daily over a period of 10 days to prepare the CRS model. Mice of control and model group were given orally with equal volume of distilled water

and XYW group was given suspension of XYW at the dose of 1.365 g·kg-1 according to its clinical dose 1 h before restraint for 12 days. The locomotor activity of mice was observed in open field test (OFT) on the 11th day and the content of neurotransmitters in various brain regions was examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on the 12th day. Result: Compared with the control group

both ambulation movements and rearing times in OFT were significantly decreased and the content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in hippocampus

norepinephrine (NE) and arginine vasopressin hormone (AVP) in forebrain and histamine in hypothalamus in CRS mice were significantly increased in the model group. XYW could significantly increase ambulation movements and rearing times in OFT and decrease the content of 5-HT

NE

AVP and histamine in brains of CRS mice. Conclusion: XYW could improve not only abnormal behavior but also alteration in content of monoamine neurotransmitters and AVP in brain induced by CRS.