Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of intranasal calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) on hippocampal apoptosis and cerebral injury. METHODS Subarach-noid hemorrhage (SAH) model was established by cisterna double injection of fresh autologous arterial blood. Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, SAH group, normal saline (NS)+SAH group (intranasal NS) and CGRP+SAH group (intranasal CGRP)(n=12). The expression of bcl-2 and caspase-3 in hippocampal tissues was detected by immunofluorescence technique on the 3rd day after the second injection. RESULTS Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the bcl-2, caspase-3 expressed very small amounts in normal control group, it was obviously increased in SAH and NS+SAH group. Compared with SAH and NS+SAH group, intransal CGRP could significantly rise the expression of Bcl-2(P<0.01) and decrease the expression of caspase-3 level significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Intransal CGRP can inhibit the apoptosis of hippocampal tissue cells effectively and have a significant protective effect on brain injury in SAH rats.