Objective To study the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on neuronal apoptosis and gumnosis in cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissue in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods The mice models of TBI were established by Feeney’s method. Thirty-six mice were divided randomly into three groups including control group, saline group and bFGF group (n=12 for each group)After 3 days and 7 days，double-labeled immunoflurescence was used to detect the apoptosis of neurons. Using double-labeled immunoflurescence and Western blotting, we observed the expressions of caspase-3 in cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissue. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in cerebral cortex was detected by Western blotting. Results The expressions of caspase-3 of cerebral cortex and hippocampus in bFGF group were lower than that in saline group (P<0.05). The expressions of GFAP of cerebral cortex in bFGF group were higher than that in saline group(EM>P/EM><0.05), there were no difference on expression of caspase-3 and GFAP between control group and saline group(EM>P/EM>>0.05). Conclusion After traumatic brain injury, bFGF could reduce the expression of caspase-3 and inhibit the neuronal apoptosis in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, increase the expressions of GFAP and promote the activation of astrcytes in cerebr