The activities and distributions of succinate dehydrogenase(SDH),malic dehydrogenase(MDH),lactic dehydrogenase(LDH),acid phosphatase(ACP) and alkaline phosphatase(AKP) in retinal vessels were studied and observed with enzymatic histochemical techniques. The retinal vessels showed a b LDH activity, moderate SDH and MDH activity. The dehydrogenase activity described above was evenly and equally distributed in the microvasculature between arterioles and venules, and was the best in arteries. AKP showed predominant activity in the endothelial cells of capillaries and arterioles which were stained bly. No activity for ACP observed in the retinal vessels. The observations above indicate that the retinal vessels are metabolically active and have a great capacity for glycolysis. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1992,8:6-9)