AIM: To observe the protective effect of EGb761 on retinal ganglion cells (RGC )in rabbits with optic nerve crush injury by myelin basic protein (MBP )in rabbits’ retina. METHODS: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into experimental(right eye)and control(left eye) groups. The rabbits’ optic nerves were crushed by mini-vascular nip. EGb761 60mg/kg were injected into the retrobulbar of right eye and the same volume balanced saline solution (BSS) were injected into the retrobulbar of left eye. 4, 7 and 14 days after injury, the number of the RGC was counted by image analysis system, and the immunohisto-chemical staining of the MBP was observed. RESULTS: Three to fourteen days after injury, the number of RGC in the experimental group and control group were lower than that in normal by microscope. The differences were significant (P<0.01); the number of RGC in experimental group was higher than that in the control group. The difference was significant (P<0.01); the results of immunohisto-chemical staining: expression of MBP in both experi-mental group and control group were gradually decreased after injury. The expression of MBP in experimental group was less apparent than that in BSS group and decreased obviously at 14 days, while the expression of MBP in BSS group was still obvious at 14 days. The positive rates of RGC in different durations of experi-mental group were lower than those in the BSS group. The differences were significant (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: EGb761 can reduce the content of MBP increase, the survival rate of RGC and may have the protective effect in preventing RGC from degeneration.