Objective      To determine the role of edaravone in regulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the cerebral tissue around hematoma induced by intracerebral hemorrhage in rabbits.       Methods      Fifty-four rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham surgery group (

n

=18)

model group (

n

=18)

and treatment group (

n

=18). Each group was further divided into 3 subgroups respectively: day 1 group (

n

=6)

day 3 group (

n

=6)

and day

5 group (

n

=6). Intracerebral hemorrhage model was made by injecting the self-body blood to the brain of the rabbits. Expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins in the cerebral tissue around hematoma were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis.       Results      In sham surgery group

immunohistochemiscal assay indicated that no significant difference was found in the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 at the different time points (

P

>0.05). In model group

the positive expression of Bax was higher than those in the sham surgery group (

P

<

0.01). In the treatment group

the expression was higher than those in the sham surgery group (

P

<

0.01)

but lower than those in the model group (

P

<

0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the model group than those in the sham surgery group (

P

<

0.01)

and that in the treatment group was significantly higher than those in the sham surgery group and the model group (

P

<

0.01). These results were further confirmed by Western blot analysis.       Conclusion      Edaravone prevents the neuronal apoptosis after intracerebral hemorrhage

probably through down-regulation of Bax protein and up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein.