Objective      To determine the effects of Dachengqi Decoction(DCQD

a set prescription of traditional Chinese herbs) combined with Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) on the gastrointestinal motility in the mice after severe head injury (SHI).        Methods      A total of 75 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=15)

that is

the sham trauma group

DCQD group

LA group

combination group

(DCQD+LA)

and saline group. The mice of the latter 4 group were inflicted to SHI and those of the first group received sham injury. In 4 h after SHI

the corresponding treatment was given to above groups. The intestinal propulsion rates were tested in 3 d after intervention

and the blood samples and brain tissues were collected in 1

3

and 7 d after intervention. The serum plasma level of motilin (MTL) was detected by ELISA

and the brain morphology was observed by HE staining.        Results      In 1 d after SHI

the MTL level was significantly lower in saline group than the sham trauma group (

P

0.05)

and higher in the LA group than in saline group (

P

0.05). In 3 d after SHI

the level was significantly higher in the combination group than saline group and DCQD group (

P

0.05). The level was obviously lower in 7 d after SHI in saline group than the sham trauma group (

P

0.05)

and was higher in DCQD group than saline group (

P

0.01)

LA group (

P

0.05) and combination group (

P

0.01). After 3 d post-trauma

the small intestinal propulsion rates was significantly lower in the saline group than in the other 4 groups (

P

0.01)

and that of the combination group was significantly higher than the sham trauma group (

P

0.01). Compared with the saline group

the brain tissue morphology was obviously improved in the DCQD group

LA group and combination group.        Conclusion      DCQD combined with LA effectively improves gastrointestinal dynamics in SHI mice by adjusting MTL and intestinal propulsion function.