AimTo investigate the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression after cerebral ischemia stroke in atherosclerotic rats model.MethodsRats were randomly divided into control group and model group, and then the latter, established into the atherosclerotic rats model, were randomly divided into five groups: atherosclerosis (As)-sham, As rat model with sustained ischemia (As-SI) 0.5, 6, 12, 24 h.The cerebral tissues were analyzed with the level of VEGF mRNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the level of VEGF protein by immunohistochemical method.ResultsTo compare each type of rat model groups with control, and compare four-time-points rat model groups with As-sham, the formers were significantly up-regulated (p<0.05), and changed regularly with the four-time points，among which VEGF mRNA and its protein productions had reached the peak in As-SI 6 h group.ConclusionsThe present study showed that atherosclerotic disease had some positive effects on the expression of VEGF gene and its outcomes during cerebral ischemia stoke happened, and changed with the four-time points.Meanwhile, it had provided a theory to evaluate the occurrence, development, treatment and prognosis of cerebral ischemia stroke complicated by atherosclerotic disease.