AIM: To investigate the expression of neuroglobin (Ngb) in the retina of rats with ocular hypertension induced acute retinal hypoxic-ischemic injury. METHODS: Seventy Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups randomly. The experimental model was induced by elevation of intraocular pressure via anterior chamber canula insertion in the left eyes and the fellow eyes were preserved as normal controls. The retinal tissues were taken at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 60 minutes after hypoxic-ischemia injury. Protein was extracted, and then analyzed by Western-blot method. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The time-depended expressions of Ngb were observed. The level of Ngb increased rapidly at 1 minute after ischemia and reached to the peak at 5 minutes, which had significant difference from that of control group (P<0.05). It kept in high level during 5-15 minutes (P<0.05), then decreased after 20 minutes till 60 minutes. There were no significant differences between experimental and control group in the latter period (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of Ngb in retinal tissue increased rapidly after hypoxic-ischemic injury in rats, suggesting that Ngb may play an important role in the process of acute retinal hypoxic-ischemic injury.