Background In recent years the mechanism of neuronal apoptosis caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion has been widely studied. There are many factors that result in the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Such as loss of Ca2+ homeostasis, increased production of reactive oxygen species and so on. And finally endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)occurs. Many studies have suggested that ERS induced neuronal apoptosis was involved in the injury of cerebral ischemia reperfusion. Objective This paper is to made an overall statement on the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress and cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. Hope to provide some new ideas for clinical treatment and the development of new drugs. Content This paper reviews the correlation between different pathways induced by ERS and cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. Trend The relationship between endoplasmic reticulum stress and cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury still need to be in-depth study and the following research should find some methods to attenuate ERS to improve the prognosis of patients.