Objective      To observe the neuroprotective effect of intravenous oxaloacetate (OxAc) in a rat model of lithium-pilocarpine-induced epilepsy (LPE).       Methods      Thirty 6-8 weeks old male Sprague-Dawley rats

weighing 180-220 g

were randomly divided into control group

LPE model group

LPE+OxAc group

LPE+OxAc+glutamate-oxaloacetate transminase (GOT) group

and LPE+OxAc+maleate group

6 in each group. Rats in control group were given saline instead of pilocapine

rats in LPE model group and LPE+OxAc group were injected with OxAc at the dose of 3.5 mg/100 g when the seizure of epilepsy was arrested

rats in LPE+OxAc+GOT group were injected with OxAc at the dose of 3.5 mg/100 g and GOT at the dose of 3.5 μg/100 g when the seizure of epilepsy was arrested

and rats in LPE+OxAc+maleate group were injected with OxAc at the dose of 3.5 mg/100 g and maleate at the dose of 6.3 mg/100 g when the seizure of epilepsy was arrested. Sixty minutes after a rat epilepsy model was induced with lithium-pilocarpine

seizure of epilepsy was arrested by injecting diazepam. Glutamate level in cerebrospinal fluid and blood was measured

findings on electroencephalogram（EEG）and neuronal loss in different experimental groups were recorded at different time points.       Results      The level of glutamate in cerebrospinal fluid and blood was about 88% and 54% higher in LPE model group than in control group after the seizure of epilepsy was arrested (P0.05）and reached its peak at 8 h

then began to decrease slowly

indicating that intravenous OxAc could significantly reduce the glutamate level in cerebrospinal fluid and blood within 8 and 12 h after the seizure of epilepsy was arrested (P0.05）. OxAc could also significantly improve the EEG and neuronal loss in hippcampus and dentate hilus. Intravenous GOT could improve the neuroprotective effect of OxAc

while maleate (a specific inhibitor of GOT) could attenuate the neuroprotective effect of OxAc in rats with epilepsy.       Conclusion      Intravenous OxAc exerts its neuroprotective effect in rat LPE model by down-regulating the glutamate level in blood.