Objective:To study the effect of cytochrome C on rats with sleep apnea syndrom and approach its possible mechanism.Methods:40 old SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 10 rats in each group:model group

0.25 mg dose cytochrome C group

0.5 mg dose cytochrome C group and control group.The vital signs of animals in each group were monitored every day

and blood gas analysis was performed by taking suction arterial blood

and Western Blot method was used to analyse Bcl-2 and Bax protein of cerebral cortex.Results:The vital signs of cytochrome C group were more stable than that of model group

but worse than that of control group.The values of pH

PO2 and SaO2 were lowest and the PCO2 highest in model group and the change ranked as following order:model group

0.25 mg dose cytochrome C group

0.5 mg dose cytochrome C group and control group(P<0.05).Western Blot result showed that the protein expression of Bcl-2 was lowest in model group and it was increased in other groups(P<0.05)

while Bax protein was highest in model group and was decreased in other groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:These results demonstrated that Cytochrome C could raise O2 utilization rate in rats with sleep apnea syndrom

improve blood oxygen content

and protect brain cell.The action mechanism might be related with up-regulating Bcl-2 and dow-regulating Bax.