Abstract: AIM: To observe and compare the effects of Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine on glutamate-evoked currents in cultured rat hippocampus neurons.METHODS: Rat hippocampal neurons were dissociated and cultured. Glutamate-evoked currents were recorded by whole cell patch clamp recording.Effects of Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine on glutamate-evoked currents were observed.Drugs were given by pressure ejection or applicated in the bath. RESULTS: Glutamate (100mmol·L ^-1) can activate inward currents in cultured rat hippocampus neurons and this currents could be locked by non-NMDA antagonists DNQX.At concentrations of 10, 50, 100 mmol·L ^-1, both Bupivacaine and Ropivacaine could obviously decrease glutamate-evoked currents in cultured rat hippocampus neurons.At higher concentration of 50 and 100 mmol·L ^-1, the reduced amplitude of glutamate-evoked currents by Ropivacaine was larger than that of by Bupivacaine(P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine have obviously inhibition effect on glutamateevoked currents in cultured rat hippocampus neurons.The inhibition effect of Ropivacaine on glutamate-evoked currents is stronger than that of Bupivacaine.

Key words: Ropivacaine, Bupivacaine, patch clamp, glutamate, hippocampus