Objective To investigate the glutamate toxicity on inner stratum retinal neurons(ISRN) and the neurotoxicity quantity-efficacy relation. Method Retinal explants obtained from 30 neonatal mices were implanted into two pieces of 24-well culture plates (48 wells). The 48 wells were divided into three groups: control group, glutamate exposure 24 h group, and glutamate exposure with further lasting 6 h group. The retinal explants were sectioned, and then stained with HE after 24 h in vitro. The cells in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) layer and inner nuclear layer (INL) were analyzed by light microscope at 1 000times; magnification , and the number of normal morphological cells was counted under three 1 000times; magnificat ion fields. Results Some cells in ISRN (include RGCs and INL c ells) showed pykno tic nuclei and necrosis after 24 h in control culture. Glutamate exposure 24 h group:at the 2 mmol and 4 mmol concentrations of glutamate, the situation of the normal morphological cells in ISRN had no difference from that of the control group (Pgt;0.05). At the concentration of glutamate more than or equal to 6 mmol, the number of normal morphological cells in ISRN was significantly less than that of the control group (Plt;0.05), and with the increase of glutamate concentration, the number of normal morphological cells was reduced. Glutamate exposure with fur ther lasting 6 h group: at the concentration of glutamate equal to 6 mmol, the n umber of normal morphological cells in INL was significantly less than that of the control group (Plt;0.05), while the number of normal morphological cells in RGCs layer had no difference between two groups (Pgt;0.05). At the concentration of glutamate more than or equal to 8 mmol, the number of normal morphological cels in RGC s layer and INL was significantly less than that of the control group (Plt;0.05 ). Conclusion Glutamate has the neurotoxicity for ISRN in vitro, and the effect is dose-dependant. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:311-314)