The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) administered via internal jugular vein injection, carotid artery injection, or intraventricular transplantation for the treatment of cerebral infarction, which was modeled in rats. The neurological scores of the treated rats and the distribution of the transplanted cells (GFP-labeled) in the infarction area were evaluated. The cerebral infarction model was produced by inserting a modified Zea-longa suture, which generated middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The GFP-labeled BMSCs were transplanted through the jugular vein or the carotid artery or by stereotactic intraventricular delivery to the infarction models 1 week after the cerebral infarction was established. The 'Nerve Function Score' of the model rats was recorded before and after BMSC transplantation. Brain tissue sections were examined under a fluorescence microscope. We determined that the transplanted BMSCs rescued brain function, which was indicated by a decrease in the neurological scores (P<0·05) following BMSC transplantation. The effect of BMSC transplantation was reflected in decreases in the neurological score in the intraventricular transplantation group, the carotid artery transplantation group, and the jugular vein graft group*. The transplanted BMSCs were able to migrate to the brain injury area and the cortex and survived the infarction; thus, BMSCs may promote the recovery of nerve function.