AIM: To observe the changes of level of brain monoamine neurotransmitters in r at models of post stroke depression (PSD),
and investigate the effects of the C hinese herb of Yinao Jieyu
prescription. MEHTODS: The experiment was carried out in the laboratory and its high perform ance liquid phase testing center of Scientific Research Center,College of Basic Medicine,Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 15th to May in 2004.Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group, str oke group, model group,fluoxetine group and Yinao Jieyu prescription group with 12 rats in each group.Rats in the normal group received no intervention, those i n the other four groups were duplicated into models of focal cerebral ischemia,a nd then they were made into PSD models except those in the stroke group,and they received gastric perfusion of double distilled water, fluoxetin and Yinao Jieyu prescription respectively from the 1st day after the establishment of model for 6 weeks.The contents of norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), 5 hydroxytryptamin e (5 HT) and its metabolite 5 Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5 HIAA) in anterior c erebral cortex and hippocampus were determined with the high performance liquid phase electrochemical method. RESULTS:All the 60 rats were involved in the analysis of results. In the anter ior cerebral cortex: ①The 5 HT contents in the normal group <(512.78±73.00) n g/g >and stroke group <(484.05±55.92)ng/g>were higher than that in the model gr oup <(375.93±86.35) ng/g>; The 5 HT contents were not different between the fl uoxetine group <(465.04±86.85) ng/g> and Yinao Jieyu prescription group <(459.4 1±68.24) ng/g>, which were
significantly increased as compared with that in the model group. ②The NE content in the model group <(368.59±84.24) ng/g>was sign ificantly decreased as compared with that in the normal group <(438.82±63.21) n g/g>, and it was significantly in the Yinao Jieyu prescription group <(485.91±5 8.98) ng/g>as compared with the model group.③The 5 HIAA contents in the normal group <(615.68±65.01) ng/g> and stroke group <(600.67±41.17) ng/g> were highe r than that in the model group <(501.78±82.88) ng/g>, and it was significantly increased in the fluoxetine group <(590.05±86.45) ng/g> as compared with the mo del group (P< 0.05).In the tissue of cerebral hippocampus: ①5 HT content in th e model group <(167.97±36.71) ng/g> was significantly decreased as compared wit h those in the normal group <(351.46±69.23) ng/g> and stroke group <(325.94±68 .17) ng/g>, and it was remarkably increased in the fluoxetine group <(375.64±97 .79) ng/g>and Yinao Jieyu prescription group <(248.73±58.99) ng/g> as compared with the model group.②The DA content in the model group <(18.49±5.17) ng/g> wa s dramatically decreased as compared with that in the normal group <(25.33±6.91 ) ng/g>, and it was significantly increased in the Yinao Jieyu prescription grou p <(27.94±7.22) ng/g> as compared with the model group (P< 0.01).③The NE conte nt in the model group <(368.62±51.48) ng/g> was markedly decreased as compared with that in the normal group <(664.88±62.63) ng/g>, and it was significantly i ncreased in the Yinao Jieyu prescription group <(428.52±39.24) ng/g> as compare d with the model group (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The contents of brain monoamine neurotransmitters in PSD rats are decreased, and the Chinese herb of Yinao Jieyu prescription can increase the con tents of 5 HT, NE and DA in their central nervous system.