ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of TransfastFastTM Transfection Reagent-mediated transfection of NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on expression of anti-apoptosis factor Bcl-xL in the primary cultured cortical neurons after oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R). MethodsOGD/R model was established using primary cultured rat cortical neurons, and the model neurons were divided into 4 groups according to different treatments: OGD 4 h/R 6 h, NF-κB decoy ODNs, scrambled decoy ODNs and TransfastFastTM Transfection Reagent groups. Untreated neurons served as normal control. The protein expression of NF-κB P50-and c-Rel in the neurons was determined by Western blotting analysis; the expression of Bcl-xL mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. ResultsThe expression of NF-κB P50 and c-Rel protein was significantly higher in the OGD 4 h/R 6 h than that in the normal control group (P<0.01); and the expression in NF-κB decoy ODNs group was significantly lower than that in the OGD 4 h/R 6 h, scrambled decoy ODNs and TransfastFastTM Transfection Reagent groups(P<0.05). RT-PCR results showed that Bcl-xL mRNA expression in OGD 4 h/R 6 h was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05), and that in NF-κB decoy ODNs group was significantly lower than that in the OGD 4 h/R 6 h, scrambled decoy ODNs and TransfastFastTM Transfection Reagent groups(P<0.05). ConclusionNF-κB decoy ODNs can effectively inhibit NF-κB P50- and c-Rel-mediated Bcl-xL mRNA expression in primary cortical neurons, which may be one of the mechanisms for the neuroprotective function of NF-κB.