Objective To study the protection of magnesium sulfate against radiation-induced injury of neural stem cells. Methods Brain tissues of new-born Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were dissociated to culture the neural stem cells. The neural stem cells were divided into 3 groups as blank control group, experimental control group and experimental group (with magnesium sulfate). Observe neural stem cell ap-optosis after being irradiated with 2 Gy of gamma rays,detect the cell cycle by FCM on 24h and 48h after being irradiated with 2 Gy,4 Gy. Results Compared with the blank control group, the apoptosis of neural stem cells in the experimental control group was obvious,and the neural stem cells were blocked in G, , G2phase obviously. Compared with the experimental control group,the number of the apoptotic cells in the experimental group decreased and the cell cycle blocking was also reduced significantly ( P < 0. 05). Conclusion Magnesium sulfate can alleviate the injury of neural stem cells; ease the apoptosis and the cell cycle blocking after irradiation.