Objective To observe the morphological changes in hippocampus and amygdaloid nucleus of rat model exposed to natural enemies and water drinking conflict

when administered with Danzhi Xiaoyao San（ Cortex Moutan and Furctus Gardeniae Free Wanderer Powder） which has liver-soothing

heatclearing and spleen-tonifying effects. Methods Evaluated by the open-field test

the male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group

model group

traditional Chinese herbal medicine group

and western medicine group

with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the model group

traditional Chinese herbal medicine group and western medicine group were exposed to natural enemies and water drinking conflict to establish anxiety model. From the 15 thday on

rats in the normal group and model group were offered distilled water

and the rats in the western medicine group started on buspirone hydrochloride

while the rats in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine group were given Danzhi Xiaoyao San using intragastric administration. All the above intervention lasted for 7 consecutive days. Light microscope was used to observe the morphological changes in the hippocampus and amygdaloid nucleus.Results Somas of the neurons of the hippocampus and amygdaloid nucleus were relatively large and round in rats of normal group

and their brain cells lined up in an orderly concentrated manner. In the rats of model group

there was karyopyknosis of a large number of neurons

which were hyperchromatic and deformed; the cells were loosely arranged without patterns and there was increased space between the cells. Such feature was particularly prominent in the CA2 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus.Compared with the model group

cells in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine group and western medicine group appeared significantly better and the cell layout was relatively in order. Conclusion The Chinese herbal medicine

Danzhi Xiaoyao San

the key liver-soothing

heat-clearing and spleen-tonifying formula

may repair the encephalic region injury related to the rat’s Papez circuit and also facilitate the recovery.