Status epilepticus was induced via intraperitoneal injection of lithium-pilocarpine. The inhibitory ef-fects of propofol on status epilepticus in rats were judged based on observation of behavior, elec-troencephalography and 24-hour survival rate. Propofol (12.5-100 mg/kg) improved status epilep-ticus in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly reduced the number of deaths within 24 hours of lithium-pilocarpine injection. West blot results showed that, 24 hours after induction of status epilepticus, the levels of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A and 2B subunits were significantly in-creased in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Propofol at 50 mg/kg significantly suppressed the increase in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit levels, but not the increase in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A subunit levels. The results suggest that propofol can effectively inhibit status epilepticus induced by lithium-pilocarpine. This effect may be associated with down-regulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit expression after seizures.