Objective To analyze the protective effects of heat-shock response on the retinae of the rats after retinal ischemic reperfusion injury.Method Twenty Wistar rats (20 eyes) were divided into 4 groups: intracameral perfusion group (group P), intracameral perfusion after quercetin injection group (group P+Q), intracameral perfusion after heat shock group (group P+H), and in tracameral perfusion after quercetin injection and heat shock group (group P+Q+H ). According to the standard program established by International Society for Clinical Visual Electrophysiology, we recorded the results of the dark-adapted electroretinogram (D-ERG ),oscillatory potentials (OPs),and light-adapted ERG (L-ERG) of the rats with intraocular hypertension after induced by heat shock response. The expressions of HSP 70 of the rats in all groups were observed by Western blotting.Results The expression of HSP 70 of the rats in group P+H was the highest in all groups, but the expressions of HSP70 in group P+Q and P+Q+H were inhibited significantly. The amplitudes of a and b wave of ERG and O2 wave of OPs decreased, and the delitescence of them were delayed significantly in rats after intracameral perfusion. The amplitude of b wave of D-ERG and O2 wave of OPs in group P+H were higher than which in group P. Zero hour after perfusion, the amplitudes of all waves in group P+H increased significantly (Plt;0.05). Twenty-four hours after perfusion, the retinal functional resumption of the rats in group P+H was better than which in group P. In group P+Q and P+Q+H, the delitescences of all waves of ERG and O2 wave of OPs were the longest and the amplitudes were the lowest, and some waves even disappeared.Conclusions The heat-shock response may improve the recovery ability of the retinal cells after injury of ischemic reperfusion.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2003,19:117-120)