Effect of ketamine on apoptosis and synaptophysin expression in hippocampal neural cell of SD infant rats

Objective To observe the effect of ketamine on apoptosis and synaptophysin expression in 7-day-old infant SD rat hippocampal neural cells. Methods Thirty SD rats of 7 days old were randomly assigned to receive the injection of 25 mg/kg ketamine (K_ 1 group)or 50 mg/kg (K_ 2 group) or 50 ml/kg normal saline (K_ 0 group). In 24 h after injecton, all rats were killed and the synaptophysin was tested by using immunhistochemistry and Western blotting, the apoptosis of neuronal cell by Tunel. Results In 24 h after injection of ketamine,the number of apoptotic neural cells increased,which of K_ 0 group was (5.3±1.7), K_ 1 group (9.5±4.2), K_ 2 group (23.4±7.6), and the grey values of synaptophysin by immunhistochemistry of K_ 0 group was (174.11±4.68), K_ 1 group (181.36±4.17), K_ 2 group (198.25±3.06), and the OD values of synaptophysin piece decreased, which of K_ 0 group (4 007±758), K_ 1 group (2 621±465), K_ 2 group (987±183). Conclusion In 24 h after treatment with ketamine, the expression of synaptophysin was decreased in hippocampl neural cells, the number of apoptotic neuronal cells were increased, which may be involved in neurotoxicity caused by ketamine.