AIM: To investigate the protective effect of 6% Hydroxyethyl Starch(HES,200/(0.5)) on the brain of hemorrhagic-shocked rats.METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(group A),hemorrhagic shocked group(group B),whole blood return group(group C),HES at 2x shed blood volume(SBV) group(group D),HES at 1x SBV plus 1/2 SBV group(group E).Hemorrhagic Shock was induced by intermittently withdrawing blood from an iliac catheter.Except group A and B,the other groups were resuscitated with different liquids and lasted 30 min after 1h for shock.The extent of brain edema and inflammatory cells infiltrating was observed by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining,and the expression of nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-?B) in the rat brain and translocation of nucleus were detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blot method.RESULTS: Except the sham group,there were brain edema and inflammatory cells infiltrating in the other groups,which was more obvious in group C and D.The expression of NF-?B in the rat brain was significantly increased in group B and other groups as compared with those in group A(P