Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects of etomidate and midazolam on extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 phosphorylation in mice hippocampus slices.Methods BALB/C mice weighting 18～22 g were decapitated and the hippocampus were dissected.Hippocampal slices were prepared with MacⅡwain tissue chopper.Hippocampal slices were incubated at 36 ℃ during the whole experiment.The slices were incubated with 10^-9～10^-4mol/L etomidate and midazolam respectively for 1h during the experiment.Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was examined in hippocampus slices by immunoblotting with both phosphor-p44/42 Map kinase and p44/42 Map kinase antibodies.Experiments were performed in the absence(control) or presence of various concentrations of etomidate and midazolam.Results Clinically relevant concentrations of etomidate and midazolam decrease phosphorylation of ERK1/2.The decrease was concentration-dependent.Conclusion Etomidate and midazolam markedly decrease phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in mice hippocampal slices.

Key words: midazolam, etomidate, ERK MAP kinases, hippocampus