To explore the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins(TSPN)on neuronal apoptosis and expression of Nrf2 and Caspase-3 in rats with spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods:Rat models were established with the “self-made beater” and 100 successfully constructed SCI rats were randomly divided into a control group，a model group，a positive control group，and a test group，with 25 rats in each group.Positive control group and the test group were given methylprednisolone［30 mg/(kg·d)］and TSPN［100 mg/(kg·d)］by intraperitoneal injection respectively; the control group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline for 14 d.HE staining and TUNEL method were used to detect the histopathological changes and neuronal apoptosis of rat spinal cord tissue; the protein expression of Nrf2 and Caspase-3 in the spinal cord tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and Wb method.Results:Compared with the control group，the expression of Nrf2 protein in the spinal cord tissues of rats in the model group significantly decreased，and the positive control group and the test group were higher than the model group，and the positive control group was higher than the test group; and the neuronal apoptosis rate and Caspase-3 protein expression significantly increased，and the positive control group and the test group were lower than the model group，and the positive control group was lower than the test group(all P<0.05).Conclusion:TSPN can alleviate the degree of spinal cord tissue lesions in SCI rats and protect neurons，and the mechanisms may be related to down-regulation of Caspase-3 protein expression and up-regulation of Nrf2 protein expression in spinal cord tissues.