【Objective】 To study the effect of Bcl-xl gene on cytotoxicity of SH-SY5Y cells induced by sodium nitroprusside. 【Methods】 The plasmid pIRES2-EGFP/Bcl-xl was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells. Three groups were designed: A) normal control group;B) pIRES2-EGFP control group; C) pIRES2-EGFP/Bcl-xl group. After SH-SY5Y cells being treated with sodium nitroprusside (50 ?滋mol/L)

the apoptosis was valued by Hoechst33258 stain. In addition

MTT was employed to test cell viability. We also did RT-PCR and Western blotting to investigate Bcl-xl gene expression. 【Results】 By transfection of pIRES2-EGFP/Bcl-xl

Bcl-xl gene could effectively express in SH-SY5Y cells. Supported by MTT results

Bcl-xl gene was able to partially reduce cell death induced by sodium nitroprusside. 【Conclusion】 Transfection of Bcl-xl gene can increase the expression of Bcl-xl and thus lead to weaken cell death induced by NO supplied by sodium nitroprusside. This result supports that cytotoxicity induced by SNP is mainly mediated via the process of apoptosis.