Objective To investigate the effect of methylprednisolone on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in Müller cells of rats’ retinae injured by laser. Methods Forty SD rats were randomly divided into two groups and inflicted with laser photocoagulation.The rats in treatment group were given methylprednisolone by intraperitoneal injection with a dose of 30 mg/kg for 3 days.At the 3rd,7th,14th,and 28th day after photocoagulation respectively, the eyes were enucleated,fixed and cut into sections.Immunohistochemical examination was used to detect the expression of PCNA and GFAP. Results After photocoagulation the Müller cells expressed PCNA both in the treatment and control group,and the expression of PCNA decreased sharply after 3 days. The expression of PCNA in treatment group was less than that in control group. After photocoagulation the Müller cells also expressed GFAP and the expression of GFAP lasted for at least 28 days ,and the expression of GFAP expression in the treatment group was less than that in the control group. Conclusion Methylprednisolone can reduce the expression of GFAP and PCNA in Müller cells of rats’ retinae injured by laser. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 299-301)