Objective To investigate the protective effect of nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) on nerves in rats with cerebral occlusion/reperfusion injury and its mechanism. Methods Healthy male SD rats were chosen to construct the middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model. All rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, negative virus group, and Nurr1 over-expression group. Longa's modified neurological severity score, Triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, and immunofluorescence histochemical staining were applied respectively to detect the neurological injury, infarct volume, and density of microtubule associated protein-2 (MAP2) positive nerve cells in rats after MCAO/R. Related kits were used to detect the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA). The protein levels of Nurr1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), and Bcl2-assaciated X protein (BAX) were detected by Western blot. Results Nurr1 over-expression improved the neurological outcome with lower modified neurological severity scores by decreasing infarct volume, content of MDA, and expressions of inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, IL-1β, and pro-apoptosis related protein BAX. Nurr1 over-expression significantly increased the density of MAP2 positive nerve cells, activity of SOD, and the expression of anti-apoptosis related protein Bcl2. Conclusion Nurr1 may alleviate the cerebral ischemic damage by resisting oxidation, reducing inflammation, and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptotic signaling pathway-mediated cell apoptosis.