Abstract: Objective To observe the expression of Bax and c-Fos in brain tissue of sub-health state rat model induced by restraint stress, and further to study the effect of the Traditional Chinese Medicine. Methods Twenty male SD rats of 320-360g, were randomly divided into 4 with 5 rats per group: normal control group, model control group, Anti-ageing tablets group and Liuwei Dihuang pills group, 5 rats per group. The sub-health state animal model was established by limiting daily movement for 3 hours consecutive to 14 days according to the circumstance that can result human physiological stress. At the same time, the rats in Anti-ageing tablets group and Liuwei Dihuang pills group were treated with Anti-ageing tablets and Liuwei Dihuang pills. Respectively during the model building period.The expression level of Bax and c-Fos in brain tissues were detected on completion of the model establishment . Results Fourteen days after molding, in model control group,the expression level of Bax and c-Fos in cerebral cortex and in hippocampus was increased remarkably, while expression of Bax and c-Fos in anti-aging tablets and Liuwei Dihuang pills treated groups was decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion The rat with mental stress were induced by activity restriction have got the expression of Bax and c-Fos significantly increased in brain tissue . The treatments of anti-aging tablets and Liuweidihuang pills improve this kind of mental stress through reducing the expression of Bax and c-Fos, protecting and decreasing neuron injuries caused by stressors.

Key words: Restraint stress, Sub-health state, Rat, Brain tissue, Bax, c-Fos, Traditional Chinese Medicine