Abstract: ［Abstract］  Objective〖HTSS〗〓To observe the effect of edaravone on hypoxicischemic brain damage(HIBD) in neonatal rats and to investigate the protective effect of edaravone on brain through p38MAPK/matrix metalloprotein9（MMP9） signaling pathway.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Methods〖HTSS〗〓Neonatal rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation group, the HIBD group, the edaravone group, the SB203580 group(n=16, each group). The surgical procedure of HIBD was described previously. Ischemic penumbrae of the cerebral cortex were harvested to determine superoxide dismutase(SOD), malondialdehyde(MDA). Measurements of MMP9 in the brain samples were performed using ELISA. Measurements of extracellular signalregulated kinase1/2 （ERK1/2）, cJun Nterminal kinase 1/2 （JNK1/2）, p38MAPK, pERK1/2, pJNK1/2, and pp38MAPK concentration in the brain samples were performed using western blot analysis.
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Results〖HTSS〗〓The neurological function score and cerebral water content of the HIBD group, edaravone group and SB203580 group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group. The activity of SOD was lower than that in the sham operation group, and the content of MDA and MMP9 were higher than those of the sham operation group. The neurological function score and cerebral water content of edaravone group and SB203580 group were significantly lower than those in HIBD group. The activity of SOD was higher than that of the HIBD group, and the content of MDA and MMP9 were lower than those of the HIBD group（P＜005）. The contents of JNK1/2, pJNK1/2, p38MAPK and pp38MAPK in HIBD group were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group, edaravone group and SB203580 group, and the contents of ERK and pERK were significantly higher than those in the sham operation group(P＜005).
〖HTH〗〖WTHZ〗Conclusion〖HTSS〗〓The neuroprotective effect of edaravone on HIBD in neonatal rats (7 d) was associated with inhibition of proinflammatory mediator production and downregulation of JNK1/2 and p38MAPK activation, which may be related to down regulation of p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway activity.

Key words: hypoxiaischemia, brain, edaravone, rats