Abstract:AIM: To investigate the expression of hyporia inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α), apoptosis of retinal cells and the role of HIF-1α in apoptosis in rats’ retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: The rat model of experimental retinal ischemia- reperfusion injury was established by increasing the intraocular pressure to 110mmHg (1kPa =7.5mmHg) in rat eyes.At different time points of post ischemia, the expression of HIF-1α of the retina was detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the apoptosis of retinal cell was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphatebiotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). RESULTS: HIF-1α appeared in the cells of retinal ganglion layer and inner nuclear layer at 2 hours after ischemia .The expression reached to a peak, 12 hours after retinal ischemia-reperfusion, then, the expression was declined. The apoptotic cells were mainly in inner nuclear layer and could be detected at the 12th, 24th and 48th hour after ischemia, the peak value was the group of 24th hour. CONCLUSION: The expression of HIF-1α in rats’ retina is greatly enhanced after ischemia-reperfusion, which may be involved in the retinal injury; the injury of retinal neurons occurs partly in the form of apoptosis. The expression of HIF-1α may play an important role in cell apoptosis.