Objective To explore the effects of Tongyan Spray（ 通咽喷雾剂

TY Spray） on swallowing function and pulmonary inflammation in model rats with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion（ t MCAO）. Methods A total of 70 SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group（ n = 10）

a model group（ n = 30） and a TY Spray group（ n = 30）. The middle cerebral arteries of rats in the model group and the TY Spray group were blocked by suture method

and reperfusion was given 90 min later to establish the rat model of t MCAO. TY Spray was given to rats in the TY Spray group by oropharyngeal spray after the modeling

while the control group and the model group were given the same amount spray of normal saline

with 1 time per day and 1 spray each time. After 14 days

the latency and number of swallowing were observed. Serum and pulmonary tissue substance P（ SP） content was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ ELISA）

pulmonary tissue changes were observed by HE staining

and tumor necrosis factor-α（ TNF-α） and interleukin-6（ IL-6） expressions in bronchial mucosal epithelium of rats were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results In the model group

the bronchial cavity and alveoli were inflated with gas

the lung tissue was disordered

and the alveolar septa were thinned; the latency of swallowing was prolonged and the number of swallowing was decreased; the SP content in serum and pulmonary tissue was increased; and the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in bronchial mucosal epithelial tissue were increased

compared with the blank group（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. Compared with the model group

the pulmonary tissue changes of rats in the TY Spray group showed a relieving tendency; the number of swallowing was significantly increased; and the SP content in serum and pulmonary tissue was increased（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）

without significant improvement in the expressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in bronchial mucosal epithelium（ P > 0. 05）. Conclusion Tongyan Spray can effectively improve the swallowing function and increase the swallowing frequency of t MCAO rats

which may be related to the increase of SP content in serum and pulmonary tissue. But it has no obvious effect on the changes of pulmonary inflammation.