Objective:To investigate the effects of Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder on the concentraion changes of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor(GR) in hippocampus of depression rats. Method:Fifty male Wistar rats were evenly randomized into control group

model group

fluoxertine group

modified Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder low dose

high dose

10 in each group. Depression model of rat was produced by using chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely raising for 21 days.From the twenty-second days of models

fluoxertine group 2.5 mg·kg-1

modified Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder low dose 2.04 g·kg-1

high dose 4.08 g·kg-1

each of the medication group perfused daily with the medicine which was needed 10 mL·kg-1

and control group and model group perfused daily with normal saline of a volume the same as the medication group

before the stress of each day. Until all rats were killed

there are 21 days. Use the Western-blot to determine the expression of glucocorticoid receptor(GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor(MR) in the hippocampus of rats. Result:Compared with the control group

the down-relation of GR protein expression was found in hippocampus of model group

but MR protein expression increased. After treatment

the GR protein expression in hippocampus of rats significantly raised (P<0.05) in the model group

and each group MR protein expression in hippocampus of rats from model group significantly lowered (P<0.05). Conclusion:Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder can regulatet the GR and MR protein expression in hippocampus and antidepressant effect. Its mechanism of action of antidepressants may be related to the hippocampus in imbalance of the proportion of the relationship between GR and MR.