AIM: To investigate the effect of Y-27632 on the survival and neurite outgrowth of the cultured retinal neurocytes.METHODS: After the postnatal day 2-3, Sprague-Dawley retinal neurocytes were cultured for 48 hours, the culture media was replaced with serum-free media (control group) and serum-free media contained 30mmol/L Y-27632 (Y-27632 group), and the cells were continually cultured another 48 hours. The cultured retinal neurocytes were identified with anti-neuron specific enolase (NSE) immunocytochemistry. The survival state of those cells was estimated by MTT assay, and the neurite outgrowth of those cells was evaluated by the computerized image-analysis system.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the absorbance values of cells survival in Y-27632 group increased 12.90% and 33.33% respectively after 72 and 96 hours culture. Y-27632 had no significant effect on the diameter of cultured retinal neurocytes. Compared with the control group, Y-27632 induced a stable improvement of neurite outgrowth of retinal neurocytes after 72 and 96 hours culture (P=0.001).CONCLUSION: Y-27632 could promote the survival and neurite outgrowth of the early postnatal cultured retinal neurocytes.