Objective: To study the antidepressant effects of petroleum ether extracts from Ranae Oviductus (ROS) and to investigate the related mechanisms. Method: Male ICR mice were divided into 2 batches

and every batch was randomly divided into control and six treatment groups.The control group was given normal saline and treatment groups were received ROS at dose of 10

30

100

300

900 mg·kg-1 respectively for 8 days.In the first batch

1 h after the 7 th day and 8 th day administration

forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were conducted for evaluation of behavior.And then the levels of serum corticosterone in the mice were measured by radioimmunoassay method. In the second batch

we observed the effects of ROS on depressive mice through reserpine reversal test after the day of 8 administration. Result: The group of 100

300

900 mg·kg-1 ROS could significantly shorten mice immobility time in FST and TST (P<0.05)

and could remarkably inhibit the decrease of body temperature and motor deficits in reserpine-induced hypothermia and motor deficits test at 4th hour(P<0.05). Moreover

the groups of 100

300

900 mg·kg-1 ROS could decrease the cortisol level in mice serum compared with control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Petroleum ether extracts from Ranae Oviductus possess antidepressant effects

and it may be related to monoamine neurotransmitters and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.