Objective To investigate activation of autophagy by permanent focal cerebral ischemia,the effects of blocking autophagy-lysosomal pathway,and evaluate relationships between its neuroprotection and the expression of LC3 and cathepsin B and Bcl-2 in rat models of permanent focal cerebral ischemia.Methods Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) model was induced by using intraluminal filament technique in rats.Activation of autophagy in neurons in ischemic cortex was observed using electron microscopy.3-MA (150-600 nmol) or CBI (5-10 μg) was injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) immediately after the onset of ischemia.