AIM:To determine the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the proliferation and migration of Müller cell line Moorfields/Institute of Ophthalmology-Müller 1 (MIO-M1), and its related molecular mechanisms under normal and oxidative stress conditions.METHODS: Müller cells were cultured with different concentrations of EGF in the presence or absence of varied amounts of H2O2 and glucose oxidase (GO) which induced oxidative stress. The proliferation and migration of Müller cells were examined by 5-Bromo-2-deoxyUridine (BrdU), MTT assay, Transwell assay and scratch wound healing assays. The cell viability was determined with the MTT assay. The secretion of EGF by Müller cells was evaluated by ELISA. Western blot was performed to detect the activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK)1/2 and Akt signal pathways.RESULTS:EGF stimulated the proliferation and migration of Müller cells in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. Underoxidative damage condition,2h of pretreatment with 10-100 ng/mL EGF can mostly inhibit 50% lethal dose of 0.08 mmol/L H2O2-induced cell damage. The Western blot results showed that after Müller cells were exposed to varying EGF for 24h, Akt and ERK1/2 were phosphorylated in a dose-dependent manner. In the presence of the LY294002, the potent PI3K inhibitor, the p-Akt was significantly attenuated.CONCLUSION:EGF may induce the proliferation and migration of human Müller cells through the Akt and the ERK1/2 signal pathways, and induce PI3K-mediated glioprotective effect under oxidative stress.