To investigate the effect of butylphthalide on nerve cell injury induced by sevoflurane and its possible mechanism.

Nerve cells from fetal rat hippocampus were cultured and divided into the control group (normal nerve cells), sevoflurane group (3% sevoflurane ventilation), low dose BNP group (BNP 1 μmol/L 6 h+3% sevoflurane ventilation), intermidate dose BNP group (BNP 5 μmol/L 6 h+3% enlfurane ventilation ) and high dose BNP group (BNP 10 μmol/L 6 h+3% sevoflurane ventilation). The survival of cells was detected by MTT method, the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry and Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression were evaluated by Western bolt.

At 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, sevoflurane cell survival rates were significantly lower than that of the control group (Control group:(88.31±8.20)%, (80.42±9.04)%, (75.63±7.84)%; Sevo group:(71.53±6.95)%, (61.35±7.38)%, (45.40±5.42)%. t = 3.491, 3.654, 7.092, P < 0.001. In the low dose BNP group, survival rates were: (72.41±8.42)%, (67.22±6.46)%, (50.11±5.71)%. t = 2.567, 2.030, 4.556, P = 0.028, 0.034, 0.000.In the moderate dose BNP group, survival rates were: (76.68±5.95)%, (72.53±5.10)%, (54.58±6.73)%. t = 2.567, 2.030, 4.556, P?= 0.028, 0.034, 0.000. High dose BNP group: (79.32±6.44)%, (75.68±5.47)%, (60.09±4.28)%, t = 2.183, 2.048, 3.890, P = 0.023, 0.036, 0.000). Cell survival rate of each treatment group was significantly higher than that of the sevoflurane group (Sevo group: (71.53±6.95)%, (61.35±7.38)%, (45.40±5.42)%. Low dose BNP group: (72.41±8.42)%, (67.22±6.46)%, (50.11±5.71) %. t = 1.180, 2.038, 2.317, P = 0.216, 0.030, 0.019. Moderate dose BNP group: (76.68±5.95)%, (72.53±5.10) %, (54.58±6.73) %. t = 2.180, 2.787, 2.376, P = 0.028, 0.017, 0.020. High dose BNP group: (79.32±6.44)%, (75.68±5.47)%, (60.09±4.28)%, t = 2.206, 3.488, 4.756, P = 0.022, 0.000, 0.000), and with the increasing of BNP concentration, cell survival rate was significantly increased (Low dose BNP group: (72.41±8.42)%, (67.22±6.46)%, (50.11±5.71)%. Moderate dose BNP group: (76.68±5.95)%, (72.53±5.10)%, (54.58±6.73)%. High dose BNP group: (79.32±6.44)%,(75.68±5.47)%, (60.09±4.28)%, F = 2.182, 2.491, 2.384, P = 0.020, 0.024, 0.022). Flow cytometry showed apoptosis of nerve cells treated with sevoflurane was significantly higher than the control group (Sevo group and the apoptosis was prevented by addition of BNP in a dose-dependent manner:(67.49±7.92)%, Low dose BNP group:(60.72±8.33)%, moderate dose BNP group: (44.95±7.21)%, High dose BNP group:(31.86±6.50)%, Control group:(19.42±4.58)%, F = 6.583, P < 0.001). The expression of Bcl-2 was lower in the sevoflurane group than the control group; BNP increased the expression of Bcl-2; sevoflurane treatment increased Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression, which was prevent by BNP.

Sevoflurane can induce the apoptosis of nerve cells, thereby causing damage to the nervous system, and butylphthalide can effectively inhibit the apoptosis of nerve cells induced by sevoflurane by promoting the expression of Bcl-2 protein and inhibiting Bax and Caspase-3 protein expression.