ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the changes of c-fos in apoptosis of cerebellar granular neuron of neonatal SD rats induced by heroin and the mechanisms of neuronal injury caused by heroin.@*METHODS@#Primary cerebellar granular neuron were cultured in vitro, the model of apoptosis induced by heroin was established. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting were adopted to investigate the changes of c-fos in cell models.@*RESULTS@#Ten microg/mL of heroin was the optimal dose to induce the apoptosis of cerebellar granular neuron at 48 h. Both Western blotting and RT-PCR showed down regulation of c-fos expression.@*CONCLUSION@#Heroin could induce apoptosis of cerebellar granular neuron and down regulation of c-fos, which may be one of the apoptosis mechanisms.