AIM: To study the effect of the minocycline (MNC) on expression of bcl-2, bax in retinal nerve cells of rat with diabetes. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into negative control group, model control group and MNC treated group. Diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). The protein expressions of bcl-2 and bax in retina were detected by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: Compared with the negative control group, bax immunoreactive neurons in retina were increased significantly (P <0.01) in model control group. However, bax immun- oreactive neurons in retina in MNC treated group were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model control group, bcl-2 immunoreactive neurons in retina were increased significantly(P <0.01) in MNC treated group. CONCLUSION: MNC can obviously decreased expression of bax and increased expression of bcl-2 in retina with DR. It is one of path of inhibiting impairment on retinal nerve cells with DR.