·AIM:To investigate retinal vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)level and retinal cells apoptosis in the early stage of diabetic NOD mouse retina.·METHODS:Animals were divided into the control group(non-diabetes mice)(2,4,6,8,12 weeks group,n=30)and diabetes group(2,4,6,8,12 weeks group,n=30).ELISA(Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay)was performed to detect VEGF level in both serum and retina.Transmission electron microscope method was used to examine retinal cell apoptosis.·RESULTS:Compared with the control group,VEGF levels in serum and retina were increased significantly in the NOD group(12 weeks:4.9±0.4μg/g versus 0.19±0.1μg/g in serum sample,P<0.01;165.0±9.0μg/g versus 18.0±4.0μg/g in retinal sample,P<0.01).There exists a positive correlation between serum VEGF and retinal VEGF levels in the early diabetic NOD mice(γ=0.9902,P=0.001).The number of the cells apoptosis in the ganglion cells and endothelium can also been found increased significantly in the NOD group(P<0.01).·CONCLUSION:The high VEGF expression may be contributed to increase retinal cells apoptosis.Many factors associated with retinal VEGF expression might involve in the early diabetes stage.·