Objective To explore plasma Nesfatin-1 concentration and its correlation with hypothalamic pituitary adrenal(HPA) axis in depression model rats. Methods Twelve SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group(NCG) and depression model group(DMG). DMG received 5 consecutive weeks of 7 different chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS). The behavior of rats was evaluated by an open field test,sucrose preference test,and forced swimming test(FST). The concentration of plasma corticosterone and Nesfatin-1 were measured with an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay(ELISA). Results Compared with NCG,DMG had a lower weight gain,lower index of sucrose preference and spent longer time being immobile in FST while all of these differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). The plasma concentrations of corticosterone and Nesfatin-1 were significantly higher in DMG than in theN CG(P<0.05). The plasma concentration of Nesfatin-1in DMG was positively correlated with the plasma corticosterone concentration. Conclusion CUMS could induce depression-like behavior in rats and increase the plasma concentration of Nesfatin-1 and corticosterone,while the HPA axis hyperactivity induced by CUMS may be associated with the increased concentration of Nesfatin-1. Objective To explore plasma Nesfatin-1 concentration and its correlation with hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in depression model rats. Methods Twelve SD SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NCG) and depression model group (DMG). DMG received 5 consecutive The behavior of rats was evaluated by an open field test, sucrose preference test, and forced swimming test (FST). The concentration of plasma corticosterone and Nesfatin-1 were measured with an enzyme -linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). Results with NCG, DMG had a lower weight gain, lower index of sucrose preference and spent longer time being being inobile in FST while all of these differences were statistically significant (P <0.05). The Plasma concentrations of corticosterone and Nesfatin-1 were significantly higher in DMG than in the CGG (P <0.05). The plasma concentration of Nesfatin-1 in DMG was positively correlated with the plasma corticosterone concentration. Conclusion CUMS could induce depression-like behavior in rats and increase the plasma concentration of Nesfatin-1 and corticosterone, while the HPA axis hyperactivity induced by CUMS may be associated with the increased concentration of Nesfatin-1.