AIM:To investigate the effect of α-lipoic acid(α-LA)on the retinal morphology expression of P53 and Bax during retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.METHODS:A total of 72 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group,ischemia-reperfusion model group and LA treatment group.the last two groups were subdivided in group 6 hours,24 hours,48 hours,72 hours after reperfusion.The models of retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury were made by elevating intraocular pressure.Immunohistochemistry and Western-blot were used to measure changes of P53 and Bax protein levels in retinal tissue.RESULTS:No expression of P53 and Bax positive cells were found in normal group,at the ischemia-reperfusion groups.the expression of P53 and Bax began to increase at 6 hours after reperfusion,at 24 hours reached the peak,began to decrease at 48 hours,and weakened obviously at 72 hours.The therapy groups of α-lipoic acid have the same trend with the ischemic groups in each index,but the expressive intensity of each period weakened in evidence.There was significant difference(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:P53 and Bax play an important role in the happening of retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury(RIRI);α-LA can inhibit the expression of P53 and Bax cell apoptosis.