It has been found that apoptosis involves in pathophysiological process of ischemic cerebral injury and plays an important part in neu-ronal injury. To explore the mechanisms of cerebral ischemia and new therapeutic pathways in respect of apoptosis has become the focusing point of neuronal injury research in recent years. This article reviewes recent studies on cerebral ischemia andapoptosis as follows: outline of apoptosis; the presence of an apoptotic component in the loss of neurons following cerebral ischemia; the apoptotic role in process of focal cerebral ischemia; the probable mechanisms of neuronal apoptosis and also unresolved problems in the field.