Abstract: AIM: To probe the mechanism of the xiaoyao nose dribbling liquid (XNDL) by investigating the expression of c-fos in experimental migrainous rat models.METHODS: Sixty Wistar rats were divided into normal control, model group, saline nose dripped group, taijitongtian po group, XNDL po group and XNDL nose dripped group at random, and the experimental migrainous models were duplicated by subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin 9.5 mg·kg^-1.The positive cell numbers, area and gray scale were observed by the immunohistochemical method.RESULTS: The positive cell numbers and area in brain stem and hypothalamus of XNDL nose dripped group were significantly less than that of XNDL and taijitongtian po groups.CONCLUSION: XNDL may significantly inhibit the expression of c-fos.Its mechanism may be related to stop certain link of c-fos productions.

Key words: migraine, animal model, c-fos, xiaoyao nose dribbling liquid, animal model