Objective To observe the effect of amniotic homogenate on closing holes in experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and investigate its mechanism. Methods Forty rabbits were randomly divided into group A, B, C and D with 10 rabbits in each group. Group A and C were the treatment groups, and group B and D were the control groups. All eyes of rabbits underwent pars plana vitrectomy, retinectomy, and fluidair exchange. The surface of the breaks was treated with 01 ml amniotic homogenate in experimental groups and 0.1 ml PBS in control groups. At the end of operation, 20% SF6 was tamponaded and the retina reattaced. The animals were executed 14 (group A and B) and 28 days (group C and D) after the surgery. The tissue sections were observed by light microscope, electron microscope and immunocytochemistry method. Results Fourteen days after the surgery, the retina reattached in 6 eyes in group A (60%) and 2 eyes in group B (20%) (P=0.021). Twenty-eight days after the surgery, the retina reattached in 8 eyes in group C (80%) and 3 eyes in group D (30%) (P=0.046). The difference of the rate of retinal reattachment among the 4 groups were statistical significant (Plt;0.05). Light postoperative inflammation of ocular anterior segment was observed, which was controlled 3-5 days after treated with topical steroids. The result of light microscopy showed that the eyes in treatment groups had multilayer of fibroblastlike cells around the retinal breaks, adhering to the choroid and retinal pigment epithelial cells. The proliferative cells around the retinal breaks obvious less in control groups than that in the treatment groups, and the retina could not adhere to the choroid. The results of electron microscopy were the same as that of light microscopy. Immunohistochemistry staining of the fibroblastlike cells revealed positve glial fibrillary acidic protein, which suggested that the proliferative cells around the retinal breaks were retinal glial cells. Conclusions Amniotic homogenate helps to seal retinal breaks and promote retinal reattachment by stimulating the proliferation of retinal glial cells around the breaks.