OBJECTIVE To study the effects of deferoxamine on tissue sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+-K+ ATPase) activity on cerebral ischemia in rabbits. METHODS We cared for the animals in the Pharmacology Department of the Medical School of Selcuk University in 2004. We used 30, New Zealand, 7-day-old male rabbits in the experiment. We anesthetized all the animals with xylazine hydrochloric acid and ketamine. We divided the rabbits equally into 3 groups. In group 1 (n=10) (sham group), we observed baseline levels, and did not apply ischemia. In group 2 (n=10) (untreated group) we produced cerebral ischemia by clamping the bilateral common carotid arteries for 60 minutes, and in group 3 (n=10), we administered deferoxamine (DFO) 50 mg/kg intravenously immediately after opening the clamps. RESULTS The Na+-K+ATPase activity increased after DFO treatment (p=0.045). CONCLUSIONS We conclude that Na+-K+ATPase activity in cortical brain tissue was higher in DFO-treated rabbits compared with untreated animals after ischemia.