Aim To explore the mechanism of oxiracetam promoting neurogenesis and migration in rats with cerebral infarction through stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)/C-X-C chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) pathway. Methods 100 SD rats were randomly divided into control group, cerebral ischemia (CI) group, oxiracetam (200 mg/kg) group, and oxiracetam (200 mg/kg)＋AMD3100 (5 mg/kg) group, with 25 rats in each group. Electrocoagulation was used to create rat model of local permanent cerebral infarction. After 1,7 and 14 days of modeling, neurological deficits were scored, TTC staining was used to detect the volume of cerebral infarction, Nissl staining was used to detect cell survival in the infarcted area, Western blot was used to detect SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels in ischemic zone. After 1～7 days of modeling, BrdU (50 mg/kg) was continuously injected intraperitoneally. After 14 days, immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the number of BrdU＋Nestin＋and BrdU＋DCX＋ cells in the SVZ region. 5 days before modeling, retroviruses carrying GFP were injected into the SVZ region. After 14 days, immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the number of GFP＋DCX＋, GFP＋MAP-2＋ and GFP＋GFAP＋ cells in infarction area. C17.2 cells were divided into control group, oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) group, oxiracetam (final concentration:200 mg/L) group, and oxiracetam (final concentration:200 mg/L)＋AMD3100 (final concentration:100 μmol/L) group. OGD was used to create cell CI model. After 12 hours, immunofluorescence double staining was used to detect the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ and BrdU＋/MAP-2＋ cells, Transwell experiment was used to detect cell migration, Western blot was used to detect SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels in cell culture supernatant. Results Animal experiment results showed:compared with control group, mNSS score in CI group was increased, cerebral infarction volume was increased, the number of surviving cells in infarcted area was decreased, SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels were increased, the number of GFP＋DCX＋, GFP＋MAP-2＋ and GFP＋GFAP＋ cells in SVZ region were increased (P＜0.05); compared with CI group, mNSS score in oxiracetam group was decreased, cerebral infarction volume was decreased, the number of surviving cells in infarcted area was increased, SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels were increased, the number of GFP＋DCX＋, GFP＋MAP-2＋ and GFP＋GFAP＋ cells in SVZ region were increased, the number of GFP＋DCX＋, GFP＋MAP-2＋ and GFP＋GFAP＋ cells in infarcted area were increased (P＜0.05); compared with oxiracetam group, mNSS score in oxiracetam＋AMD3100 group was increased, cerebral infarction volume was increased, the number of surviving cells in infarcted area was decreased, CXCR4 protein level was decreased, the number of GFP＋DCX＋, GFP＋MAP-2＋ and GFP＋GFAP＋ cells in the SVZ region were decreased (P＜0.05). Cell experiment results showed:compared with control group, the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ and BrdU＋/MAP-2＋cells in OGD group were increased, the number of cell migration, SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels in cell culture supernatant were increased (P＜0.05); compared with OGD group, the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ and BrdU＋/MAP-2＋cells in oxiracetam group were increased, the number of cell migration, SDF-1α and CXCR4 protein levels in cell culture supernatant were increased (P＜0.05); compared with oxiracetam group, the number of BrdU＋/Nestin＋ and BrdU＋/MAP-2＋cells in oxiracetam＋AMD3100 group were decreased, the number of cell migration, CXCR4 protein level in cell culture supernatant were decreased (P＜0.05). Conclusion Oxiracetam may promote the migration of neural stem cells from the SVZ region to the ischemic zone, promoting neurogenesis and functional recovery in rats with cerebral infarction by activating SDF-1α/CXCR4 pathway.