Objective To explore the possible action mechanism of Yizhi Ningshen Granules（益智宁神颗粒） in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder（ADHD）. Methods A total of 24 immature spontaneously hypertensive rats（SHR） were randomly divided into a model group

a Chinese medicine group

a tomoxetine group

and a methylphenidate group

with 6 rats in each group

and 6 WKY were selected as the normal group. The Chinese medicine group was given Yizhi Ningshen Granules 1. 1 g/（kg·d） by intragastric perfusion

the tomoxetine group was given tomoxetine capsules 3 mg/（kg·d）

and the methylphenidate group was given methylphenidate tablets 5 mg/（kg·d） for gavage

the model group and the normal group were given normal saline with the same volume of the Chinese medicine group. After 4 weeks of gavage

the contents of dopamine（DA） and norepinephrine（NE） in hippocampus and hypothalamus were detected. Results Compared with the normal group

the DA content in the hypothalamus of the model group increased

and the DA content in the hippocampus decreased（P < 0. 05）

while NE in the hypothalamic and hippocampal did not change significantly（P > 0. 05）. Compared with the model group

there was no significant difference in the content of DA in the hypothalamus in all other groups（P > 0. 05）. The contents of DA in the hippocampus of the tomoxetine group and the methylphenidate group were increased（P < 0. 05）. There was no statistically significant difference in the contents of DA in hippocampus of Chinese medicine group（P >0. 05）. Compared with the Chinese medicine group

the DA content in the hypothalamus of the tomoxetine group was increased（P < 0. 05）. The content of DA in the hippocampus of the tomoxetine group and the methylphenidate group was increased

and the content of DA in the hippocampus of the methylphenidate group was higher than that of tomoxetine group（P < 0. 05）. Conclusion Yizhi Ningshen Granules in the treatment of ADHD may have functions through regulating DA content

and the regulatory effects are different in different brain regions.