Objective To investigate the effects of serum of patients with acute motor axonal neuropathy(AMAN) on expression of apoptosis-related proteins in rat spinal motor neuron with proteomics. Methods Serum samples of 16 patients with AMAN and 16 healthy people were obtained, and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed 24 h after primary culture of rat spinal motor neuron. The proteins of interest were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry, and differential protein spots were defined as those with changes of expression >30%. Results There were 21 differentially expressed proteins, among which heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H, proteasome subunit alpha type 1, endoplasmic reticulum protein 29, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and voltagedependent anion-selective channel protein 1 were apoptosis-related proteins. Conclusion Serum of patients with AMAN may lead to changes of expression of apoptosis-related proteins in rat spinal motor neuron.