Objective In order to investigate the effects of chronic cerebral ischemia on cerebral acetylcholinesterase(AchE) activity and learning-memory function.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanent bilateral common carotid artery ligation(BCAL).Learning-memory functions examined by water maze and step-through test were performed at 2 week,4 week and 8 week after cerebral ischemia.Cerebral cortical AchE activities were determined at 4 h,24 h,3 d,7 d,2 week,4 week and 8 week after operation of cerebral ischemia.Results In the water maze and step-through tests,each ischemia group showed deficit in learning-memory function since 2 week after BCAL and these deficits did not recover at 8 week after operation.In the cortex area of ischemia group rats,AchE activity was significantly increased from 4 h to 2 week after operation.Conclusion Permanent bilateral ligation of carotid arteries can cause chronic cerebral ischemia status and thus cause increase of acetylcholinesterase activity and learning-memory deficit.