Abstract: Recent studies have indicated that neural stem cells (NSC) distribute in the adult central nervous system generally. Subgranular zone and subventricular zone are the main districts of the endogenous NSC in the adult brain. These cells drowse when they occupy normal condition, and are activated when the brain is injuryed or comes to some pathological change, and then differentiate into mature nerve cell, recovery the damaged nerves function. So the ischemia can be treated by activating endogenous NSC or transplanting exogenous stem cells. The activating means include rehabilitation training, enriched environment and utilizing exogenous nerve growth factors. Stem cells transplantation include NSC transplantation and non-NSC transplantation.

Key words: neural stem cell (NSC), ischemia, enriched environment, transplantation, review