Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of Anshen umbilical paste on autonomic activity and serum levels of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and noradrenaline (NE) in experimental insomnia rats, in order to reveal its mechanism. Method The model of insomnia rats were established by 4-Chloro-DL-phenylalanine (PCPA) injected intraperitoneally. Forty rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model control group, Anshen umbilicus plaster (2.70 g/kg) group and diazepam (0.90×10-3g/kg) group. The general condition and autonomic activity of the rats were observed, and the contents of serum GABA and NE were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result Compared with the model control group, the body weight of the rats in Anshen umbilicus plaster group and diazepam group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the distance and speed of the movement were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the frequency and residence time in the central area also declined. After the treatment with Anshen umbilical paste and diazepam, the content of GABA in serum of rats were increased significantly (P<0.01), and the content of NE were decreased significantly (P<0.01). Conclusion Anshen umbilical paste could improve the general condition of insomnia rats and reduce the autonomic activity. The mechanism of promoting sleep may be related to the increase of GABA secretion and the decrease of NE release.

Key words: insomnia, Anshen umbilical paste, autonomic activity, GABA, NE

摘要： 目的 探讨安神脐贴对实验性失眠模型大鼠自主活动及血清γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)、去甲肾上腺素(NE)含量的影响，以揭示其促眠作用机制。方法 采用腹腔注射对氯苯丙氨酸(PCPA)复制大鼠失眠模型，40只大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型对照组、安神脐贴(2.70 g/kg体质量)组和地西泮(0.90×10-3g/kg)组。观察大鼠一般状况和自主活动情况，并采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测大鼠血清GABA、NE含量。结果 与模型对照组比较，安神脐贴组和地西泮组大鼠体质量明显增大(P<0.05)，自主活动中移动距离和速度显著降低(P<0.05或P<0.01)，在中央区出现频率和在中央区停留时间也有所下降。经安神脐贴和地西泮治疗后，大鼠血清中GABA含量显著升高(P<0.01)，NE含量显著下降(P<0.01)。结论 安神脐贴能改善失眠大鼠一般状况，减少自主活动，其促眠作用机制可能与增加GABA分泌，减少NE释放有关。

关键词: 失眠, 安神脐贴, 自主活动, γ-氨基丁酸, 去甲肾上腺素