Objective To investigate the pathological spectrum of hypertensive retinopathy. Methods Systemic hypertension was produced experimentally in SD rats by partially constricting the right renal artery and removing the left kidney.The eyes obtained from hypertensive animals at 2 weeks,1,2,4months were examined by means of light microscopy,immunohistochemical staining,electron microscopy and histochemical electron microscopy and compared with the control group. Results 1.From 2 months after surgery,thickening of retinal capillary basement membrane(RBM)became apparent.2.From then on,RBM showed an increased staining reaction for type Ⅳcollagen and laminin,while staining reaction of RBM for fibronectin in hypertensive rats was negative at any stages.The number of anionic sites within the RBM was gradually reduced following the development of hypertension and it was definitely decreased at 4 months. 3.A few deteriorated endothelial cells were lifted focally from the RBM with subendothelial swelling in retinal vessels at 2 weeks,and the pericytes exhibited edema and deterioration at 4 months. Conclusions Detachment of the endothelial cells from the RBM,thickening of the RBM companied with the reduction of anionic sites and deterioration of pericytes may be responsible for hypertensive retinopathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 1999, 15: 163-166)