biostudies-literatureXu Jthe Chinese Medicine and Brain Science Youth Scientific Research Innovation Team, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicinethe Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Provincethe Special Funding for the Taishan Scholars ProjectBasic Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicinethe City-School Integration Development Strategy Project of Jinan Citythe National Natural Science Foundation of China73-88https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12848557biostudies-literatureUnknown27(1)Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a subtype of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), involves physical and emotional symptoms that impact patients' daily lives and productivity. A reliable, side-effect-free clinical intervention is needed. Shuyu capsule is an effective traditional Chinese medicine preparation for PMDD used in the clinics, but its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. Previous research has suggested that the γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) system in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) may play a role in treating PMDD with traditional Chinese medicine, but there is a lack of functional verification. This study aims to reveal the potential mechanism of the Shuyu capsule in treating PMDD. The study employed an experimental design using female C57BL/6J and Vgat-Cre mice to assess Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. BShuyu capsule improves estrous cycle-dependent depression-like behavior in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) mice by increasing GABAergic neuronal activation and downregulating GABA_AR δ subunit expression in the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) region.PMC1284855781974553tsqn202211137, tsqn201909186 and tsqn202211355JNSX2023056zyyzdxk-202311822202101ZR2020ZD17 and ZR2021LZY018Liu KGeng XZhang HCui WXu JLiu WLi ZGao PCui YWei SHu MWang XQiao MfalseShuyu capsule improves estrous cycle-dependent depression-like behavior in premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) mice by increasing GABAergic neuronal activation and downregulating GABA_AR δ subunit expression in the dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) region.Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a subtype of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), involves physical and emotional symptoms that impact patients' daily lives and productivity. A reliable, side-effect-free clinical intervention is needed. Shuyu capsule is an effective traditional Chinese medicine preparation for PMDD used in the clinics, but its therapeutic mechanism remains unclear. Previous research has suggested that the γ-aminobutyric acidergic (GABAergic) system in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) may play a role in treating PMDD with traditional Chinese medicine, but there is a lack of functional verification. This study aims to reveal the potential mechanism of the Shuyu capsule in treating PMDD. The study employed an experimental design using female C57BL/6J and Vgat-Cre mice to assess 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-16T07:27:07.521Z2026-06-16T03:10:13.854ZS-EPMC128485574160136810.1631/jzus.B240041010.1631/jzus.b2400410