Abstract:

Objective〓〖WTBZ〗To investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. on growth and brain monoamine neurotransmitters in chronic stressed rats.〖WTHZ〗Methods〓〖WTBZ〗Fifteen individuals were divided into three groups: the control, the stressed and the Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. groups. Rats in both the stressed and Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. groups had stress for 7 days, and rats in the later group were fed with 0.159g/d Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. for 10 days after being stressed. The contents of homovanillic acid (HVA), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were determined byhigh performance liquid chromatogram (HPLC). 〖WTHZ〗Results〓〖WTBZ〗The daily growth mass in the stressed group was significantly decreased compared with the control group, while that of the Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. group was higher than the stressed group. The HVA level of the hippocampus， striatum and prefrontal lobe had no statistical difference between the stressed group and the control group however they had an increase tendency in the stressed group, and the DA level of the striatum in the Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. group was significantly higher than that of the stressed group, however, the DA level of the prefrontal lobe was significantly decreased compared with the stressed group. 〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〓〖WTBZ〗Astragalus membranaceus(Fisch.)Bunge. alleviates the decrease of growth induced by stress, and partly regulates the monoamine neurotransmitters level of brains in stressed rats.

Key words: Rats, Stress, Astragalus plant, Neurotransmitters