In our study, the results demonstrated that the number of TUNEL-positive cells, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, PARP, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α protein expression were enhanced after cerebral ischemia‒reperfusion injury, while antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased. Here, CASP3 is linked to brain ischemia.