Aim To study the effects of timeshare ad-ministration of Jiaweisinisan ( JWSNS ) on biological rhythm of rats with chronic stress. Methods Unpre-dictable mild chronic stress was used. Cosine rhythm analysis was adopted to observe and analyze the chan-ges of circadian rhythms of body temperature and se-cretion of 5-hydroxy tryptamine ( 5-HT ) , melatonin ( MT) and corticosterone ( CORT ) and the effects of JWSNS. Serum 5-HT,MT and CORT were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Three groups of administration of JWSNS had no inhibitory effects on weight gain in model rats,but improved the sucrose preference ( P <0.01 ) , which shows JWSNS has anti-depressant effects. Chronic stress made diur-nal temperature volatile in rats,the phenomenon of low-er body temperature in the day and higher in the night was more obvious in the valley value, which could be inhibited by administration of JWSNS at 17 : 30 or at 7: 30 and 17 : 30 respectively ( P <0 . 05 , P <0.01 ) .
Administration at 17 : 30 had biphasic regulatory effects on the peak and valley value,while administra-tion at 7 : 30 and 17 : 30 respectively mainly acted on the light phase,namely regulated the valley value. Rats with chronic stress showed delays of body temperature rhythm,namely postponed phase, which could only be inhibited by administration at 7 : 30 . There were de-creases in votatility and disorders in secretion rhythm, as was shown by dramatically accelerated phase of ser-um 5-HT, MT and CORT in rats with chronic stress. Administration of JWSNS at 17 : 30 or at 7 : 30 and 17 : 30 respectively had inhibitory effects on lower ser-um level of 5-HT in model rats ( P <0.01 ) . Adminis-tration of JWSNS at 17 : 30 could inhibit the decreases in volatility of serum MT(P<0. 01),while administra-tion of JWSNS at 7 : 30 or at 7 : 30 and 17 : 30 re-spectively could inhibit the secretion rhythm disorders ( P<0.01 ) . Administration of JWSNS at 17 : 30 or at 7 : 30 and 17 : 30 respectively could inhibit the CORT
increase and the decreases in volatility. ConclusionAdministration of JWSNS at 7 : 30 achieves anti-de-pressant effects by regulating rhythms of hormones and neurotransmitters. Administration of JWSNS at 17 : 30 achieves anti-depressant effects by adjusting the secre-tion of hormones and neurotransmitters,while adminis-
tration of JWSNS at 7 : 30 and 17 : 30 respectively a-chieves anti-depressant effects by those two above-men-tioned aspects.