To explore the effect of nerve growth factor on neurons by establishing the animal model of spinal cord injury is the main objective. 40 Sprague Dawley rats were stochasticly divided into a model group and a control group of 20 rats. 5 rats in the model group were selected as model group A and the rest were model group B and 5 rats in the control group were selected as control group A and the rest were control group B. Model group A and control group A were treated with tail vein injection of nerve growth factor. The expression of nerve growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein and motor function in groups were observed, to observe the effect of nerve growth factor on proliferation and apoptosis of neuron cells. The expression of nerve growth factor in model group was significantly lower than that in control group (p<0.05) and the expression of nerve growth factor in model group A and control group A was higher than that in model group B and control group B group, respectively (p<0.05). Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan score in model group was lower than that in model group A (p<0.05). The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein and vascular endothelial growth factor in model group A was higher than that of model group (p<0.05). The proliferation ability of control group was significantly higher than that of model group (p<0.05), the apoptosis rate of model group was higher than control group (p<0.05). Nerve growth factor participates in the occurrence and development of spinal cord injury and is bound up with the proliferation and apoptosis of neuronal cells.