Objective:To study the protective mechanism of acanthopanax on learning and memory and monoamine neurotransmitters acetylcholinesterase（AchE）

serotonin（5-HT）

norepinephrine（NE）

5-hydroxindole acetic acid（5-HIAA） of hippocampus in sleep deprivation rats.Method:Total of 75 male wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups

large platform group

sleep deprivation group

three treatment groups（high

middle and low dose）.Treatment groups were given Acanthopanax solution（11.2

5.6

2.8 g·kg-1） for 7 days.The others were given distilled water.A small platform was used to establish rapid eye movement sleep（REMS） deprivation model in rats.After 4 days

the ability of learning memory and space exploration was tested by Hexagonal maze in rats.The level of AchE

5-HT

NE

5-HIAA in hippocampus homogenate were measured.Result:Compared with a large platform

the number of errors of sleep deprivation group increased

the rate of cognitive reduced（P<0.01）

but finding time was shorten（P<0.05）.After administration of Acanthopanax solution

the number of errors reduced significantly

the rate of cognitive increased（P<0.01）

finding time was shorten（P<0.01）

the level of 5-HT

NE.5-HIAA was higher in Acanthopanax solution than sleep deprivation group（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.The AchE level in treatment groups was lower thanthat in sleep deprivation group but higher than large platform group（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.Conclusion:Acanthopanax can improve learning and memory ablity in sleep deprived rats

and the mechanism may involve regulating the sleep deprivation caused by disorders of monoamine neurotransmitter

accelerating the metabolic conversion of 5-HT

regulating NE

and AchE activity in the hippocampus.