Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of hyaluronidase(HAase) on rabbit brain tissue in germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage(GM-IVH) premature rabbits. Methods Eighty premature rabbits of gestation age 29 days were randomly divided into normal group, GM-IVH control group and HAase treatment group.The rabbits in GM-IVH control group and HAase treatment group were given intraperitoneal injection of 50 g/L glycerol to establish GM-IVH animal model, while the premature rabbits in normal group were given the same dose of 9 g/L saline.The GM-IVH was screened by using cranial ultrasound.The premature rabbits in HAase treatment group were given HAase into the lateral forebrain while the rabbits in the GM-IVH control group were given the same dose of 9 g/L saline.In 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after birth, the premature rabbits were killed and brain tissue were separated.The expression of neuron-glial antigen 2(NG2) were detected by adopting immunohistochemical method.The expression of myelin basic protein(MBP) were detected by Western blot method. Results The expression of NG2 in 3 groups of premature rabbits decreased gradually with the increase of age[the values of NG2 in the normal group were(62.65±33.58)×104, (15.61±4.22)×104, and (13.54±4.51)×104 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day; those in the GM-IVH control group were (54.58±25.48)×104, (48.91±22.49)×104, (7.18±2.28)×104 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day; those in the HAase treatment group were (148.13±27.30)×104, (88.38±14.55)×104, (77.98±18.96)×104 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day]. At the same time, the expression of NG2 in the HAase treatment group was higher than that of the GM-IVH control group, and the differences were statistically significant among the 3 groups at any time(all P<0.05). The expression of MBP protein in the 3 groups increased with the increase of day age[MBP protein in the normal group were (0.30±0.22)×103, (1.91±0.43)×103, and (5.67±2.14) ×103 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day; those in the GM-IVH control group were (0.87±0.12)×103, (1.15±0.22)×103 and (2.54±0.69) ×103 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day; those in the HAase treatment group were (0.91±1.01)×103, (2.25±0.66)×103, (3.40±1.10)×103 on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day]. The difference was statistically significant between the normal group and the HAase treatment group(P<0.05). Conclusions After HAase treatment, the expression of NG2 and MBP can be improved to a certain extent, promoting the development of oligodendrocytes and regeneration of myelin sheath. Key words: Germinal matrix-intraventricular hemorrhage; Hyaluronidase; Neuron-glial antigen 2; Myelin basic protein