Ｏｂｊｅｃｔｉｖｅ　To investigate the effect of sevoflurane on the expression of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1) protein and γ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor(GABAAR) α1/α2 in hippocampus, and analyze its possible neurotoxicity mechanisms in the developing brain of rats.　Methods　Two hundred and sixteen neonatal SD rats (7 d postnatal, P7) were randomly divided into three groups(n=72): the control group(group A), the sham anesthesia group(group B), and the anesthesia group(group C). The anesthesia management was a 4-hour exposure to the 0.8 MAC (2.11%) sevoflurane. The expression of the PARP-1 and GABAAR α1/α2 in the hippocampus was examined by western blotting at 6, 24, 72 h after anesthesia, respectively. Open-field test were then performed separately when the rats were 5, 8, 14?蛳week?蛳old, respectively.　Results　Compared with group A(100%), the expression of the PARA?蛳1 was significantly increased at 6 h after sevoflurane exposure in group C [(216±15)%, P<0.05], and the ratio of α1/α2 subgroup of GABAAR was significantly increased at 6 h [(126±6)%], 24 h [(127±8)%], and 72 h [(183±22)%] after sevoflurane exposure (P<0.05). Both the expression of PARP-1 and the ratio of α1/α2 subgroup of GABAAR was of no significant difference between group A and group B. Rats exposed to sevoflurane(group C) showed a longer travel distance and time than that in group A underwent open-field test when they were 5 weeks old(P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the activities between group A and group B(P＞0.05). While no differences were seen in the activities when rats were 8 and 14 weeks old(P＞0.05).　Conclusions　The exposure of sevoflurane can induce the apoptosis of neurons at early stage, indicated by the α1/α2 subgroup of GABAAR increasing. Sevoflurane might affect the adaptation and cognition ability of environment in the short term in neonatal rats.