Sodium sulfide protects against cerebral global ischemia in rats. SD rats received nimodipine (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.), sodium sulfide (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, i.v.), or 0.3% citric acid solution (vehicle control, 20 mL/kg, i.v.). Sodium sulfide decreased recovery time of EEG dose‐dependently (A). Lac and ATP in brain tissue were increased by sodium sulfide dose‐dependently (C, D). Sodium sulfide had no effect on water content of wet brain tissue and CP in brain tissue (B, E). Representative images of brain tissue immunohistochemistry (F). Scale bars = 50 μm. n = 10 per group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus control.