Abstract: Objective To explore the effects on brain monoamine neurotransmitter levels and potential action of mechanism of Anshen Dingzhi Ling(ADL) in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rats. Methods Forty SHR rats were randomly divided into five groups: ADHD model group, Atomoxetine groups, ADL-low-dose groups, ADL-medium-dose groups, and ADL-high-dose groups, at the same time eight WKY rats were set as the normal control groups. All the rats were gavaged for four weeks in a row. The open field, elevated plus maze (EPM), Morris water maze were employed to observe the changes in the animal behavior before intragastric administration and 3 weeks after the administration. Results In open field test, ADL low-dose group (P<0.05) and Atomoxetine group (P<0.01) reduce the total distance of rats, and both of groups can increase the number of cross platform (P<0.01) in Morris water maze test .At the same time ADL can reduce the frequency and Residence time that rats into the open arms (P<0.01) in elevated plus maze. Conclusion ADL decreased the spontaneous hyperactivity, relieve anxiety behavior and improve the space learning and memory.

Key words: ADHD, Anshen Dingzhi Ling, Open-field test, Elevated plus maze, Morris water maze