AIM: To investigate the change of infarct volume,the number of neuronal apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis-suppressor gene Bcl-2 protein after preconditioning with endotoxin in rats with acute focal cerebral ischemia,and explore the protective effect of endotoxin preconditioning on brain function of rats with acute focal cerebral injury. METHODS: The experiment was carried out in the Animal Laboratory of Fifth People's Hospital of Shenyang from November 2004 to February 2005. Rat focal brain ischemia...