ObjectiveTo establish a stable and reversible rat model of aplastic anemia.MethodsForty-four healthy adult female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group (n=8), modeling groups A and B (n=18, each). The rats of modeling group A received a total body irradiation by a linear accelerator at a dose of 240 cGy·min-1, SSD=100 cm and for 1.2 min on the first day of modeling, and intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide 35 mg/kg and chloromycetin 43.75 mg/kg once a day on the 4th, 6th and 8th days of modeling. The rats of modeling group B received a total body irradiation at a dose of 300 cGy·min-1, SSD=100 cm and for 1.2 min on the first day of modeling, and the same doses of intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide and chloromycetin but on the 4th, 5th and 6th days of modeling. The rats of control group received sham operation of irradiation only. On the 9th, 12th, 15th days of modeling, reticulocyte count, peripheral blood examination and bone marrow biopsy were performed. ResultsOn the 9th day of modeling, compared with the control group, the WBC, RBC, PLT, HGB, RET in the experimental groups A and B were significantly decreased (all P<0.05 ). On the 15th day of modeling, compared with that in the control group, the RBC and HGB were significantly and continuously decreased, but WBC, PLT and RET significantly increased in the experimental group A (P<0.05). In the experimental group B, the WBC, RBC, HGB, PLTand RET were significantly decreased, and the RET was significantly increased (all P<0.05). ConclusionsStable and reversible rat models of aplastic anemia can be prepared by the protocol of the modeling group A in this study, and they have advantages such as short experiment time, high successful rate, good reproducibility, and low mortality. This animal model is suitable for experimental studies on therapeutic drugs for the treatment of aplastic anemia.