[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To observe the effect of rapamycin on the apoptosis of mouse astrocytes in vitro.ME-THODS:The astrocytes from C57BL/6J newborn mouse pups were isolated and primarily cultured.The effect of rapamycin on the viability of astrocytes was assessed by MTT assay.The mean fluorescence intensity of SYTOX?Green stain in the astrocytes was detected by fluorescence microplate reader in order to analyze the effects of rapamycin on the cell death in-duced by H2 O2 , ionomycin and/or deferorxamin.DiOC6 (3) staining was used to analyze the mitochondrial membrane po-tential of the astrocytes induced by H2 O2 .Flow cytometry analysis was used to determine the production of ROS in the as-trocytes and mitochondria by staining with H2 DCFDA and MitoSOXTM Red reagent, respectively.RESULTS: Rapamycin at concentration of 0.5 μmol/L protected the astrocytes against cell death induced by H2 O2 or deferoxamine plus ionomy-cin.Rapamycin protected the mitochondrial membrane potential of astrocytes from the injury of H2 O2 .It also reduced the production of ROS in the astrocytes and decreased the level of ROS in the mitochondria.CONCLUSION:Rapamycin re-duces the ROS overload in the mitochondria, keeps mitochondrial membrane potential safety and protects the astrocytes a-gainst apoptosis in vitro.

Objective To evaluate the influence of propofol on the permeability of the blood brain barrier(BBB) in adult and aged rats.Methods Aged or adult rats were given two doses propofol in 1 hour,respectively.BBB permeability was examined by optical microscopy,electromicroscopy and Evans blue(EB) staining.Results (1)Brain EB staining was not seen in aged or adult groups that at either dose of propofol.(2)In all groups of aged and adult rats,the structure of the blood vessels was normal and lanthanum was not seen outside the blood vessels.(3)There were no significant changes in the central nervous system under microscope or electromicroscope in any groups.Conclusions Propofol at the two doses has no significant effect on BBB permeability or on the central nervous system morphology in aged and adult rats.