BackgroundLocal anesthetics (LAs) may generate neurotoxicity in neurons. In the current study, we explored the mechanisms by which microRNA-132 (miR-132) regulated the neurotoxicity of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) induced by bupivacaine (BUP). MethodsCCK-8, flow cytometry, EdU detection, qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to explore the cell viability, apoptosis and gene expression, respectively. ResultsIn this study, we found that 600 μM BUP dramatically inhibited SH-SY5Y cells viability. In addition, BUP induced cell apoptosis and neurotoxicity via increasing active caspase-3 and cleaved PARP1 levels. More importantly, the level of miR-132 was significantly up-regulated in BUP-treated cells, which was significantly reversed by miR-132 inhibitor. In addition, dual-luciferase assay indicated IGF1R was the directly binding target of miR-132 in cells. Our study further indicated that the level of IGF1R was markedly decreased by BUP interference, while miR-132 inhibitor exerted the opposite effect. Furthermore, BUP induced apoptosis and neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells were attenuated by IGF1, which further confirmed IGF1R was the downstream target of BUP in SH-SY5Y cells. ConclusionIn the present study, miR-132 played important roles in regulating BUP-induced neurotoxicity through IGF1R and may act as a promising molecular target for the treatment of human neurotoxicity induced by BUP.