Objective To study the effects of propofol on enhancement of persistent sodium currents in isolated rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons induced by ischemia. Methods Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from enzymatically isolated SD rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Ischemia was induced by anoxia and glucose deprivation. Results Both propofol 10 umol.L-1 and 100umol . L-1 significantly inhibited the enhancement of persistent sodium currents induced by ischemia and the effect of propofol 100 umol. L-1 was significantly greater than that of propofol 10umol.L-1 . Propofol 1 umol.L-1 didn't have any significant eflect on the enhanced persistent sodium currents induced by ischemia.Conclusion Propofol can inhibit the enhancement of persistent sodium currents induced by ischemia. It may explain the cerebral protective effect of propofol.