Septic encephalopathy is a frequent complication of sepsis,but there are few studies examining the role of microRNAs (miRs) in its pathogenesis.In this study,a miR-219 mimic was transfected into rat hippocampal neurons to model miR-219 overexpression.A protective effect of miR-219 was observed for glutamate-induced neurotoxicity of rat hippocampal neurons,and an underlying mechanism involving calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ γ (CaMKIIγ) was demonstrated.miR-219 and CaMKIIγ mRNA expression induced by glutamate in hippocampal neurons was determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).After neurons were transfected with miR-219 mimic,effects on cell viability and apoptosis were measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry.In addition,a luciferase reporter gene system was used to confirm CaMKIIγ as a target gene of miR-219.West blot assay and rescue experiments were also utilized to detect CaMKIIγ expression and further verify that miR-219 in hippocampal neurons exerted its effect through regulation of CaMKIIγ.MTT assay and qRT-PCR results revealed obvious decreases in cell viability and miR-219 expression after glutamate stimulation,while CaMKIIγ mRNA expression was increased.MTT,flow cytometry,and caspase-3 activity assays showed that miR-219 overexpression could elevate glutamate-induced cell viability,and reduce cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity.Moreover,luciferase CaMKIIγ-reporter activity was remarkably decreased by co-transfection with miR-219 mimic,and the results of a rescue experiment showed that CaMKIIγ overexpression could reverse the biological effects of miR-219.Collectively,these findings verify that miR-219 expression was decreased in glutamate-induced neurons,CaMKIIγ was a target gene of miR-219,and miR-219 alleviated glutamate-induced neuronal excitotoxicity by negatively controlling CaMKIIγ expression.