Objective    To investigate the effects of emulsified isoflurane on myocardial apoptosis

and the expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax after hypoxia/reoxygenation in cultured myocardial cells of neonatal rats.     Methods    Myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation model was established on cultured primary myocardial cells of neonatal rat. The myocardial cells were divided into four groups: the normal group

model group

fat milk group

and emulsified isoflurane group. The cellular morphologic changes and pulsatile frequency of each group were observed under inverted microscope and the ultrastructure of myocardial cells was observed under transmission electron microscope. The apoptotic rate of myocardial cells was determined by flow cytometry

the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and bax mRNA were detected by RT-PCR and the protein expressions of Bcl-2/Bax were observed by Western blot.     Results    The apoptotic rate were significantly decreased in both emulsified isoflurane and fat milk groups (P0.05)

especially in emulsified isoflurane group. Bcl-2 expressions was significantly up-regulated and Bax expressions was down-regulated in emulsified isoflurane group (P0.05)

while those showed no significant changes in fat milk group (P0.05).     Conclusion    Emulsified isoflurane and one of its components

fat milk

can inhibit myocardial apoptosis induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in cultured myocardial cells. Emulsified isoflurane exerts its anti-apoptosis effect maybe through up-regulating Bcl-2 expressions and down-regulating Bax expressions.