Objective To evaluate the influence of fluoride on mitochondrial membrane potential of neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells,and on the expression levels of mitochondrial proteins mitofusion 1 (Mfn1) and fission 1 (Fis1).Methods A stable and feasible culture method of SH-SY5Y cells in vitro was established with different concentration of sodium fluoride [0.0 (control),0.4,2.0 and 4.0 mmol/L],and various periods exposure of 6,12,24,48 h;the mitochondrial membrane potential of SH-SY5Y cells was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential assay kit (JC-1);and the expression levels of Mfn1 and Fis1 proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the control group (1.63 ± 0.18,1.13 ± 0.15,1.30 ± 0.02) for various periods exposure (6,12,48 h),the red/green fluorescence ratios of the mitochondrial membrane potential of SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 2.0 and 4.0 mmol/L of sodium fluoride were decreased significantly (1.01 ± 0.10,0.80 ± 0.04;0.75 ± 0.13,0.62 ± 0.10;0.82 ± 0.01,0.56 ± 0.04,P ＜ 0.05);compared with the control group (0.93 ± 0.03,1.05 ± 0.07,1.17 ± 0.04) for various periods exposure,the expression levels of mitochondrial Mfn1 protein were decreased significantly in 0.4,2.0,4.0 mmol/L sodium fluoride groups (6,12,48 h:0.75 ± 0.02,0.65 ± 0.05,0.57 ± 0.06;0.83 ± 0.06,0.79 ± 0.06,0.69 ±0.06;0.98 ± 0.05,0.73 ± 0.07,0.62 ± 0.09,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group (0.90 ± 0.05) for exposure time 12 h,the expression levels of Fis1 protein were increased significantly in 2.0,4.0 mmol/L sodium fluoride groups (1.14 ± 0.06,1.23 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression levels of mitofusion 1 and fission 1 of SH-SY5Y cells treated with fluoride are abnormal,which might be associated with the theory of nerve cell damage from high oxidative stress.