Abstract： Objective To investigate the effects of different medium and rat age on optic nerve tissue culture of rats.Methods Theoptic nerves from newborn rats(4dpostbirth)or adult rats(3-month old)were cultured on the rat-tailed collagen slide,pely-L-Lycine(PEL)slide,and Biocoat culture inserts,respectively.Their growth status was dynamically observed under a phase contrast microscope every day.The adherence rate of explant was recorded 48 h after culture.The maximum migration distance Was measured by an image analysis system on the 5th day after culture.The activity of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH)in the tissue culture medium Was measured dynamically.Morphological observance Was carried out by routine HE staining and the ultrastmcture of the tissue explants Were observed by a transmission electronmicroscope. Results The tissue adherence rate was higher in the Bioeoat insert group than in the rat-tailed collagen slide group or PLL slide group.The magnum migration distance of the tissue explants cultured in the Bioeoat insert group was longer than that in the rat-tailed collagen slide group or the PLL slidegroup.The maximum migration distance of the newborn rats Was longer than that of the adult rats under same culture condition(P<0.05).The LDH activity in the tissue culture medium began to descend 3 d after culture.The LDH activity in the adult rat group increased again on the 9th day since culturewhile it remained low level in the newborn rat group even on 12th day since culture.The cell processes showed up from the edge of explants and neuralgia cell migration was observed at the early stage,especially in newborn rats.The optic nerve structure gradually died out with the increase of culture time.The survival timeofopticnerve explant from newborn rats was longer than that of adult rats. Conclusion The optic nerve tissue can be cultured for a long time under suitable culture conditions.