Objective: To investigate the effect and possible mechanism of Chaiyue decoction on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of model in rats with chronic stress depression model

in order to provide the theoretical basis for clinical medication. Method: Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were used as experimental animals

all of which were fed for 7 days and then randomly divided into six groups

namely normal control group

disease model group

positive control group

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) groups (including Chaiyue decoction group

Xiao Chaihutang group

and Yuejuwan group). Except for the normal control group

all of the other groups were provided with isolated supporting and different chronic unpredictable moderate stressors for 21 days

in order to establish the depression model. After modeling

the rats were administered with clinic equivalent doses of drugs for 21 days. The changes in weight

sugar consumption experiment and open field test were observed for behavioral evaluation. The pathological changes in hippocampus

the changes in adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT)

the expression of GR and MR in hippocampus were detected to explore Chaiyue decoction's anti-depression effect. Result: Compared to the model group

all of TCM groups can significantly increase body weight

behavior number scores and sugar consumption (P<0.05)

and reverse ACTH and CORT level and up-regulate GR in hippocampus

but with no impact on MR protein. Chaiyue decoction group showed the best effect in TCM groups. Conclusion: Chaiyue decoction has a good antidepressant effect

while the effect of its separated prescriptions (Chaiyue decoction and Yuejuwan) is decreased. Its action mechanism may be related to increase in the expression of GR in hippocampus and decrease in plasma ACTH and serum CORT content

which can resist depression.