PURPOSES:To investigate the time of neuronie apoptosis in the retinas of Imman fetuses,and its relations with neuronie proliferation and differentiation, METHODS:The retinas of 27 human fetuses from 8th to 38th week of R,~til- ization age and 3 adults were studied by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labelling(TUNEL) method. RESULTS:Tbe nuctei of labeled apoptotic cells were charaeterised by nuclear marginization,ehromatln condensation and cleseent shape,and some apoptotie bodies were visible in the specimens. The apoptosis of neuroepithelium of fetal rclina took place during 8th to 18th week, Apoptosis of ganglion cells were observed from 1256 to 18th week. The apoptos[s of pholorec, plors were formd from 14th to 2Ist week ,while thai of bipolar neurones and M~ller cells were found from ldth to 28th week. No apoptosb of ocstones were observed in the retinas after 28th week of fertilization age and within the retinas of adults. CONCLUSION:The proliferating cells of neuroepithelium and Ihe neurones which just differetiated from fetal retina might partly undergo apoptosis. The time of apoptosls of differentiated neurones was consistent with the time of the synapses formation between neurones and their targel cells. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13:67 -69 ）