·AIM:To evaluate the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin(rhEPO)to the retinal ganglion cell(RGC)in retina ischemia reperfusion injury(RIR)in rats.·METHODS:The RIR model was modeled by retinal artery’s 30 minutes occlusion in 20 female SD rats.6μL/10U rhEPO was injected in left eyes and physiological saline was injected in right eyes as vehicle controls at 1 hour before modeling.20 rats were divided into four groups(1 day,4,7,14 days)by the time of drawing the optic bulb after modeling.The survival RGCs was observed.The fluorogold(FG)tracing technique was used at 4 days before drawing the optic bulb in both eyes.·RESULTS:The quantity of the RGCs in eyes treated with the rhEPO were significantly higher than those in control group.·CONCLUSION:The rhEPO has protective effect on the RGCs in RIR in rats.·