Cytotoxicity of lidocaine on SH-SY5Y cells

AIM: To observe the effects of lidocaine on SH-SY5Y cells and to investigate the neural cytotoxicity of lidocaine. METHODS: Cultured SH-SY5Y cells in vitro were divided into 4 groups: in group C (control group), SH-SY5Y cells were cultured under normal conditions; in group L1, SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with 0.5% lidocaine for 10 min; in group L2, SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with 1% lidocaine for 10 min; in group L3, SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with 2% lidocaine for 10 min. Cell morphology, cell viability and apoptosis were detected to evaluate the effects of lidocaine on the cells. RESULTS: SH-SY5Y cells in group C showed dendritic protrusions, enlarged nervous process and dense network. However, SH-SY5Y cells in the groups of L1, L2 and L3 showed the disappearance of dendritic protrusions, cell shrinkage, cell size reduction and round shape. Compared with SH-SY5Y cells in group C, the cell viability significantly decreased in the groups of L1, L2 and L3 with the increase in the concentration of lidocaine. Apoptotic rate of SH-SY5Y cells in group C was between 5.9% and 6.3%, and it increased with the increases in the concentration of lidocaine. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine at concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, 2% can damage SH-SY5Y cells, and this injury become obviously serious with the increase in the concentrations of lidocaine, indicating that we should use the minimum effective concentration of lidocaine in clinic to prevent the harmful effect of the drug.