Objective To analyze the expression of apoptosis-related genes of retinal blood vessel in early diabetic rats by gene chip technology. Methods To make diabetic rat model by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). On the 6th week after blood pressure increased, 10 rats were executed in Diabetic group and normal control group respectively. 20 retinal blood vessels were extracted and the RNA was isolated. The probe was made of alpha;-32 P-deoxyadenosine triphosphate (dATP)-labeled sample which hybridized 1176 nylon chips, and then analyzed by software. Three different expression genes were selected to verify by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results On the 6th week, 136 （11.5％） genes were differentially expressed ［up-regulated genes were 90(7.6%), down-regulated genes were 46(3.9%)］in diabetic group. These genes involved into different groups according to their function. Especially in 72 apoptosis-related genes, 15 genes were differentially expressed. The up-regulated genes were some TNF receptor family members such as TNFRSF12, TRAIL, TNFRSF9, FADD；Bcl-2 family members such as bcl-w, bax, bak1 and AKT. The down-regulated genes were FAF1 which related to fas. Conclusions The expression of retinal vascular gene in early diabetic rats has been changed complicatedly. In particular, the multiple apoptosis-related genes have been changed in early diabetic, and most of them are at the upstream of apoptosis pathway. These findings indicate that the development of diabetic retinopathy is associated with multiple signaling pathways leading to apoptosis, while the alterations on the level of molecular biochemistry are still limited in apoptosis induction period. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2008，24：244-248）