Objective    To study the effects of cinepazide maleate (CM) on the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 and neural function in rats after acute cerebral ischemia.     Methods    Forty-eight adult male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group

a sham operation group

an ischemia/reperfusion group

and a CM treatment group. On the 2nd and 7th days after ischemia/reperfusion

HE staining and immunohistochemical assay were employed to observe pathological changes of brain tissue and detect IL-1β and IL-6 expression in the cerebral cortex. Additionally

the water content of brain tissue and the neurological function scores of experimental animals were determined.     Results    On the 2nd day after acute cerebral ischemia

the CM treatment group exhibited more survived nerve cells

significantly inhibited expression of IL-1β and IL-6 (P0.01) and no obvious improvement about the brain water content and neurological function score (P0.05) in comparison with the ischemia/reperfusion group. On the 7th day after acute cerebral ischemia

the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in the ischemia/reperfusion group decreased as compared with a previous level (P0.01)

accompanied by improvement in neurological function (P0.05). Such changes in the CM treatment group were more significant (P0.01).     Conclusion    CM has certain cerebroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

the underlying mechanism of which may be associated with CM inhibiting IL-1β and IL-6 expression in brain tissue.