Objective To investigate the expression of apoptosis-related neuclosome assembly protein-1(NAP-1) gene in related brain region of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP) treated mice and beta-amyloid treated rats. Methods The animal models with central nervous system degeneration were established by consecutive administration of MPTP to C57BL mice and injection of beta-amyloid to brain ventricular of SD rats. The RNA in striatum and substantia nigra of mice and the RNA in cortex and hippocampus of rats were extracted. The levels of NAP-1 mRNA in these samples were estimated by RT-PCR. Results For mice, the expression of NAP-1 were decreased after MPTP treatment in substantia nigra, while its expression showed no significant change in striatum. In contrast, no effect on NAP-1 gene expression by beta-amyloid injection can be detected in cortex and hippocampus of rats. Conclusions The apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in nigrostriatal pathway after MPTP treatment may be related to the expression of NAP-1 gene. But the mechanism of neurodegeneration after beta-amyloid injection in rats may be different.