Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of Guixin granule (GXG) on behavior and symptoms of nitroglycerin-induced experimental migraine model and its possible mechanism in rats.METHODS: SD rats were used in the experiment.Flunarizine(Xibiling capsule, XBLC) was used as positive control.Guixin granule and Xibiling capsule were given to the rats through intragastric route.At 7 d after administration, nitroglycerin was injected subcutaneouly (9 mg/kg) to induce migraine model.Changes of behavior and symptoms were continuously observed at various intervals.The content of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the rats' blood and brain tissue was detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry.RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the symptom of GXG groups was improved significantly.And GXG could obviously increase the concentration of 5-HT in the blood and the brain (P <0.05 or P <0.01).CONCLUSION: The possible mechanism of GXG on improving the behavior and symptoms of migraine in rats may be through the increase in the content of 5-HT in blood and brain.

Key words: Guixin granule, migraine, animal model, behavior, 5-hydroxytryptamine