Objective To investigate the expression of induced heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in ratprime;s retinal neurons (RNs) and Muuml;ller cells, and evaluate the protective effect of HSP 70 on RNs injured with glucose deprivation and glutamate. Methods Ratprime;s RNs and Muuml;ller cells cultured in vitro were treated with heat shock (42℃ for 1 hour), and duration of the expression of HSP70 was detected by immunocytochemical techniques. Viability of the cells was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) chromatometry after incitant toxic injury with glucose deprivation (0.56 mmol/L glucose for 6 hours) and glutamate (100 mu;mol/L for 6 hours). Simultaneously, the expression was interdicted by HSP70. Results Hypereffective expression of HSP70 was found in cultured RNs and Muuml;ller cells after heat shock. The viability of RNs pretreated by heat shock after injured with glucose deprivation and glutamate significantly increased which could be interdicted by HSP70 antibody. Conclusion Hypereffective expression of HSP 70 may be induced by heat shock, which enhances the ability of tolerance of RNs to the incitant toxic injury by glucose deprivation and exitotoxicity. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:110-113)