Background: Sevoflurane, a commonly used anesthetic in neonatal, could induce neurotoxicity in newborn animals. CD82 was found to be involved in age-related cognitive impairment. However, the role of CD82 in sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity remains elusive. Methods: Hippocampal neurons were isolated from neonatal rats (postnatal day 1 or 2), and then exposed to 1.8 % sevoflurane for 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours. Neurons were pre-transfected with siRNA targeting CD82 (siCD82) or co-transfected with siTRPM7 (transient receptor potential melastatin 7) and pcDNA 3.1-CD82, and then exposed with sevoflurane (1.8%, 12 hours). Cell viability of the neurons was analyzed with MTT assay, and cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Protein expression was analyzed by western blot. Results: Sevoflurane exposure decreased cell viability of the developing hippocampal neurons in a time-dependent manner. Protein expressions of CD82 and TRPM7 were increased in neurons post sevoflurane exposure in a time-dependent manner. Pre-transfection of siCD82 attenuated sevoflurane-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in cell apoptosis in the neurons. Moreover, knockdown of CD82 reversed the promoting effects of sevoflurane on protein expression of cleaved TRPM7 and cleaved caspase-3. Over-expression of CD82 aggravated sevoflurane-induced decrease in cell viability and increase in cell apoptosis in neurons, while knockdown of TRPM7 counteracted with the effects of CD82 over-expression on sevoflurane-induced developing neurons. Conclusion: Sevoflurane exposure increased the expression of CD82 and TRPM7 in developing hippocampal neurons, decreased cell viability and promoted the cell apoptosis. Knockdown of CD82 partially ameliorated sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity by down-regulation of cleaved TRPM7 in the developing neurons.