Objective　To investigate the radioprotective effect of cimetidine on survival rate and hematopoietic system in acutely irradiated mice. Methods　The total body irradiation doses were 6.0Gy and 8.0Gy respectively at 1.01Gy/min rate. Sixty healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive-drug (523) group and cimetidine groups (33.3mg/kg, 100mg/kg and 300mg/kg). Each group had ten mice. The mice were given intragastric administration of cimetidine for 6d before the irradiation in cimetidine groups, and 523 was administered before irradiation once a day for one day in 523 group, and at 5h after irradiation, was given again. The 30d survival rate after 8.0Gy irradiation was recorded. The peripheral blood cells, bone marrow DNA content and frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (fMNPCE) were determined 30d after 6.0Gy irradiation. Results　After 8.0Gy irradiation, all the mice died on 21th day in model control group. The survival rates in cimetidine groups were 50%, 20% and 30%, respectively. After 6.0Gy irradiation on 30th day, compared with control group, the peripheral white blood cells (WBC) and bone marrow DNA content were decreased significantly (P<0.01, P<0.05) in model group, and fMNPCE was increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, WBC was significantly increased in 300mg/kg cimetidine group (P<0.01). In cimetidine groups, the bone marrow DNA content was increased significantly after irradiation (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the fMNPCE was decreased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05)and tended towards normal. Conclusion　Cimetidine could improve 30d survival rate of acutely irradiated mice and has good protective effect on hematopoietic system. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2017.01.12