Objective: To investigate the effects of Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder on the concentraion changes of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) in blood plasma of depression model in rats

and discuss the effect of Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder on the function of HPA in the depression rats. Method: Depression model of rat was produced by using chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely raising for 42 days.The first 21 days is built model

From the twenty-second days of models

the rats received the stress and medicine intervention.Use radioimmunoassay(RIA) to determine the change of cortisol(CORT) and adrenocorticotropin(ACTH). Result: The concentraions of CORT and ACTH were increased significantly in blood plasma of the model rats compared to that of the normal group(P<0.05);also the concentraions of CORT and ACTH were reduced significantly in blood plasma of Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder group compared to that of the model group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Jiawei Danzhi Xiaoyao powder can reduce the concentraion changes of CORT and ACTH in blood plasma of depression model in rats

thereby play its treating role.