ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of MRI pre-scanning technique in stereotactic brain puncture in rats.MethodsTotally 18 SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=9):control group,in which the brain puncture was performed in strict accordance with the stereotactic brain atlas, and experimental group, in which MRI pre-scanning was performed and brain puncture was guided by the images. Rats in both groups were injected 2μL Gd-DTPA, taking caudate nucleus in the axial section which crosses the center of globus pallidus as target. Then MRI scanning was performed with three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequence to detect the enhancement of Gd-DTPA and compare the brain puncture accuracy between the two groups. ResultsThe number of rats which were located precisely was 8 in experimental group (88.89%), and 3 in the control group (66.67%). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The accuracy of experimental group was much higher than that of control group.ConclusionMRI pre-scanning can improve the accuracy of stereotactic brain puncture, and it is a necessary step to confirm accuracy and repeatability of the stereotactic operations.