ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of different hypoxia treatments on secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the cerebral cortex cells of rats. MethodsPrimary cultured cerebral cortex cells were subjected to hypoxia treatments (1% and 4% oxygen) for 3 h or 6 h. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α protein in cultural supernatants. Results(1) Compared with the corresponding normoxia (20% oxygen) controls, IL-6 level was significantly decreased after treatment with 1% oxygen for 3 h and 6 h (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were not significantly different. (2) Compared with the corresponding normoxia (20% oxygen) controls, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were not significantly different in cells treated with 4% oxygen for 3 h(P>0.05); the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased in cells treated with 4% oxygen for 6 h (P<0.01, P<0.05), and TNF-α level was not significantly different(P>0.05). ConclusionOxygen at 1% has no influence on IL-1β or TNF-α secretion in cerebral cortex cells of rats, and it can inhibit the production of IL-6. Oxygen at 4% has inhibitory effect on IL-1β and IL-6 production, and it has no effect on TNF-α production.