Objective: To study the effect of Zhengan Xifeng decoction (ZGXFD) on pathological changes and neuron apoptosis in cerebral tissuein of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MACO) in rats. The effect of ZGXFD on the behavior obstade in rats was observed. Method: The model of focal cerebral ischemia in rats was established with the suture-occuluded method and was used to intervene with different dose of ZGXFD (15

30 g·kg-1

respectively)before MCAO. The effect of ZGXFD on the behavior obstacle in rats was observed

the infarct size and the pathological change were observed by TTC staining

and HE dyeing

respectively. TUNEL was used to evaluate the apoptosis of neurons

and Western blot was used to observe the expression of Caspase 3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase(PARP). Result: After modeling

behavior obstacle with different degree appeared in all rats. The infarct size could be observed in all groups except sham group. The nerve cell apoptosis could be found in all rats after 6 h of MCAO. The result showed that the ZGXFT improved the behavior obstacle

reduced the infarct size and cerebral edema obviously;and the AI and apoptosis of Caspase-3 and PARP were decreased significantly after 6 h MCAO. Conclusion: ZGXFD pretreatment has obvious protective effects on the focal cerebral ischemia in rats.