Abstract: Objective:To explore the effects of estrogen on retinal ganglion cell apoptosis and Bcl-2 expression in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury of rabbit.Methods:The animals were randomly divided into the sham operation group, ischemia group and estrogen treatment group, the ischemia group and estrogen treatment group were subdivided into 3, 6, 12, 24 and 72 h time-point after reperfusion.The retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury model of rabbit was established.The retinal ganglion cell apoptosis was detected using TUNEL method, the bcl-2 expressions in retinal tissue at different time-points were detected by immunohistochemistry SABC method.Results:The number of TUNEL-positive retinal ganglion cells in estrogen treatment group at 12, 24 and 72 h after reperfusion were less than that in ischemia group(P<0.05 to P<0.01).Compared with the ischemia group, the number of bcl-2 positive cells in estrogen treatment group significantly increased at 12, 24 and 72 h after reperfusion(P<0.01).Conclusions:Estradiol benzoate can increase the bcl-2 anti-apoptosis gene expression in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and play a therapeutic effect on retinal ischemia reperfusion injury through inhibiting the cell apoptosis.