Abstract: Objective: To observe the changes of learning and memory function and the therapeutic effects of nerve growth factor （NGF） in diabetic rats.Methods: Two months after the diabetic model was induced, and nerve growth factor 200 μg·kg^-1 ·d^-1. 30 d im was given for the NGF group. the faction of learning and memory were measured by the water maze testing and the hippocampal pyramidal cells were counted and compared with NC group and DM group. Results: Three months later, the time of completing the whole swimming journey and the numbers of error reaction were much higher in the DM group than in the NC group. The counts of hippocampal pyramidal cell in the DM group were much less than that in the NC group （P ＜0.001）. The parameters in the NGF group were similar to DM group. Conclusion: The cerebral function of learning and memory may be injured by diabetes, and peripheral administration of NGF shows not any improvement for such injury.