Objective This study was aimed to investigate the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in rats with acute methanol poisoning. Methods Animal models of acute methanol poisoning in rats were duplicated using a plexiglas chamber exposed to a mixture of N2O/O2. Right atrium venous blood of rats were taken at each time point (2 h, 12 h, 24 h,3 d,1 w), and gas chromatography was used to determine the methanol concentration of the rat blood (n=5) . Then got brain tissue to extract total RNA and reverse transcription (n=3) . SYBRGreen real-time PCR was used to monitor the expression of MCP-1 and VEGF mRNA. Results (1) Results of methanol concentration determination:The blood methanol concentration of the low-dose group was significantly increased in comparison with that of the saline control group at 2 h and 12 h time points ( < 0.05) . In the high-dose group, the blood methanol concentration was increased significantly compared with the low-dose group as well as the saline group at 2 h, 12 h and 24 h time points ( < 0.05); (2) The expression of MCP-1 mRNA: The expression level of MCP-1 were significantly enhanced along with the time lapse after acute poisoning,and became most severely at 24 h. The expression levels of MCP-1 have significant differences in groups,of which high-dose group was higher than low-dose group at 2 h, 3 d and 1 w ( <0.05);(3) The expression of VEGF mRNA:The expression level of VEGF was significantly enhanced along with the time lapse after acute poisoning,and became most severely at 24 h. The expression levels of MCP-1 have significant differences in groups,of which high-dose group was higher than low-dose group at 2 h and 12 h ( <0.05) . Conclusion The expression levels of MCP-1 and VEGF mRNA were significantly enhanced, and the degree of poisoning was apparently related with the dose administered. MCP-1 and VEGF might play the important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of brain injured.