PURPOSE:To measure the concentration changes of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-alpha;)in vitreous during the development of experimental PVR induced by macrophages and explore the initial and mediated factors which stimulate the cellular proliferation. METHODS:Rabbit PVR model was induced by macrophages and the vitreous was taken at the 7th,14th,21st and 28th day and 4 eyes in each group. The TNF-alpha; levels in vivreous of the above examinated and control eyes were measured with an ELISA kit. RESULTS:The TNF-alpha; level in the vitreous reached its peak 434mu;g/ml at 21st day in the mod-el, then rappidly decreased to 122mu;g/ml at 28th day. CONCLUSION:The changes of TNF-a in the vitreous of the PVR model were parallel to the natrual phases of the development of PVR,indicating TNF-alpha; may play an important role in initiating and mediating the inflammation and cellular proliferation in the vitreous. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 231-233）