Objective To investigate the protective effect of aminoguanidine(AG),silymarin (Sil) and anisodamine (Ani) on retinal capillary pericytes cultured in glycosylation products. Methods MTT cololrimetric assay, [3H] thymidine incorporating and fluorescent indicat or fura-2 acetoxy-methyl ester (Fura-2AM) were used to study the influence of AG,Sil and Ani on the growth,DNA synthesis,and cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2 ]i)changes of pericytes cultured in the medium contained early glycation products (EGs) or advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Results Cultured in the medium contained EGs,the A value by MTT assayed and amount of [3H] thymidine incorporating in AG group and Sil group were obviously elevated than those of control group(Plt;0.01);but the [Ca2 ]iconcentration in both groups were decreased significantly comparing with control group(Plt;0.01 and 0.05).Under the condition of AEGs,only AG group was distinctly increased on the A value and amount of [3H] thymidine incorporatin g (Plt;0.01),and [Ca2 ]i concentration was markedly decreased (Plt;0.05) comparing with control group. Conclusion AG has the portective effect on pericytes against the proliferative inhibition and excessive elevation of [Ca2 ]i concentration in cytosol which are induced both by EGs or AGEs.Silymarin has the effect for those only by Egs-induced.Ani has no protective effect no pericytes nei ther cultured in medium with EGs nor with AGEs. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:192-194)