AIM:To investigate the interference effect of Danshen injection on apoptosis of retinal cells in experimental retinal contusion·METHODS:Forty-two pigmented rabbits were selected,and the left and right eyes were in the experimental control group and Danshen injection group,respectively.The retinal contusion model was set up by Allen’s reformative hitting method.The eyeballs of the 42 pigmented rabbits were enucleated 1 hour,3 hours,1 day,3,7,14 and 28 days after the retinal contusion model was established.Another 2 pigmented rabbits were selected as the normal control,which underwent none of the contusion but eyeball extraction at the end of the observation period.TUNEL and transmission electron microscopy were used to detect the apoptosis of the retinal cells.Cell counts and statistical analysis were used to assess results·RESULTS: There was cell apoptosis in sensory layer after contusion of retina,but almost not observed in retinas from normal control,14,28 days group.They were abundant in 3 hours,1 day,3 days group,with morphological and biochemical changes of apoptosis features of apoptotic cells,in which sensory layer of the retina in the 3 days group the number of apoptotic cells reached its peak.It was also found that apoptosis cells in Danshen injection group were less than that in the experimental control group(P<0.01)·CONCLUSION: Danshen injection may inhibit the apoptosis of retinal cells in experimental retinal contusion.