Aim To investigate the relationship between amnestic effect of enflurane or isoflurane and NMDA receptor.Methods Amnestic model was established by intraperitoneal injection of enflurane(0.4 ml?kg-1)or isoflurane(0.3 ml?kg-1)respectively in mice before intracerebroventricular injection of different doses of NMDA(25,50,75 ng),then the error times,step down latency and step through latency were observed in the step down test and step through test.Results NMDA(50,75 ng)by intracerebroventricular injection could decrease the error times,and increase the step down latency and step through latency of amnestic mice induced by enflurane or isoflurane in the step down test and step through test.Conclusions NMDA by intracerebroventricular injection can improve amnestic effect of enflurane or isoflurane partially.NMDA receptor may be an important target for amnestic effect of enflurane or isoflurane.