Objective: To investigated the preventive and therapeutic effects of Danggui Sini decoction (DSD) on oxaliplatin induced chronic chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) by observing the pain response of rats

the expression of NR2B mRNA level. Method: Fifty-two adult female Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups:blank control group

model control group

positive control group of mecobalamin (104 μg·kg-1)

DSD group of (5.59

22.36 g·kg-1). Animal model of chronic CIPN was induced by oxaliplatin (4 mg·kg-1

ip

twice a week for 8 times)

rats were pretreated by DSD (ig

daily) and mecobalamin (ip

twice in a week) from 7 days before making models and continued for 50 days after modeling. The body weight (every three days) and MWT (weekly) of rats were measured. The expression of NR2B mRNA in L2-4 spinal sample was tested by Q-PCR. Result: Rat weights in DSD groups were significantly higher than those in model and positive control group after day 40th (P<0.01). Comparing to the model group

there were significant increasing on MWT in both DSD and mecobalamin groups (P<0.05). The significant decrease of NR2B mRNA and the increase of pNF-H were spotted in tissue samples from DSD group

compared with those in the model group

however

the changes on NR2B and pNF-H was not obvious in mecobalamin group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The chronic CIPN in rats could be alleviated by treatment of DSD by decreasing the expression of NR2B mRNA in L2-4 spine. Hence

treatment of DSD could be a potential alternative therapy for chronic CIPN.