Effects of Hypericum perforaturn extract on behavior of bilateral olfactory bulb impaired rats

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of Hypericum perforaturm on behavior of depression rats.METHODS The model of bilateral olfactory bulb impairment in rats was adopted. Some behavioral methods involving learning and memory were used.RESULTS By improving the classic model, the rate of death in rats was reduced, while the behavioral changes of the modified model were similar to the former one.Hypericum perforaturm extract 150 and 75 mg·kg-1 significantly decreased the numbers of crossings and rearings in open-field test(OF), decreased staying time during training and testing in step-down test.The extract also notably increased the testing latent time in light/dark transition test, meanwhile diminished the numbers of transition. CONCLUSION Olfactory bulbectomy behavioral syndrome in rats with bilateral olfactory bulb impairment was meliorated by Hypericum perforaturm extract, which suggested that the extract may possess some antidepressant like activity.