Objective To study the neuroprotective effect of MK-801 on spinal cord ischemic injury.Methods Establishing spinal cord ischemia model of New Zealand white rabbits.Using the HE staining, TUNEL method, immunohischemistry staining and RT-PCR to detect expression levels of NMDAR, iNOS, caspase-3 and observe the neuroprotective effect of different doses of MK-801on spinal cord ischemic injury.Results Normal structure of the spinal cord completely disappeared in the control group.Structure of low-dose group is better than the control group.Sham group showed normal spinal cord structure.Ischemic damage of high dose group ranged from the low-dose group to the sham group.NMDAR, iNOS Caspase-3 were mainly located in the cytoplasm.Apoptotic index is the highest in the control group and from low dose group, high dose group to sham group gradually decreased with statistical significance (P<0.05).NMDAR, iNOS, Caspase-3 mRNA levels gradually decreased with statistical significancance from control group, low dose group, high dose group to sham group (P<0.05).Conclusions MK-801can inhibit the neuronal apoptosis.It has the neuroprotective effect.