Objective     To observe the protection of D-amphetamine on rat brain after focal cerebral ischemia.      Methods     The unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models were established by using Koizumi’s method. TUNEL was applied to detect quantitatively brain cell apoptosis at 1st

3rd and 6th week after operation. Immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were respectively used to detect the expression of growth-associated protein 43(GAP-43) and GAP-43 mRNA around ischemic area.      Results     Apoptosis of brain cells reduced evidently in the group treated with D-amphetamine. GAP-43 protein detection demonstrated statistically significant increase in immunoreaction product as determined by optical density measurements in D-amphetamine treated group compared with the group without any agent treatment. The same results appeared in RT-PCR product.      Conclusion     D-amphetamine can reduce brain cell apoptosis and promote GAP-43 expression.