Objective: To investigate the effect of rutaecarpine (Rut) on the expression of Toll like receptor 2/4 (TLR2/4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in permanent focal cerebral ischemia rats and to explore the mechanism involved. Method: The rat permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model was reproduced according to the revised Koizumi method. Three days after the surgery

rats were divided into model group

sham group

and rutaecarpine(Rut) group. Rut was injected intraperitoneally at the doses of 10

5

1 mg·kg-1 for seven days. The cerebral infarction area and water content of brain tissue were determined. Protein expression of TLR2/4 and NF-κB in brain tissue was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemical methods. Result: Compared with the sham group

the infarct volume and brain water content were significantly increased after pMCAO;the protein expression of TLR2

TLR4

and NF-κB were increased significantly with western bloting and immunochemical methods (P<0.01)

andincreased TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta levels in serum as well (P<0.01). Rutaecarpine could significantly reduce infarct volume and brain water content (P<0.05)

the expression of TLR2/4 and NF-κB in rats was significantly attenuated(P<0.05)

and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta content was alleviated(P<0.05). Conclusion: Rut can ameliorate the rats focal cerebral ischemic injury

and the mechanism may be related with the regulation of TLR2/4-NF-κB signaling.