Retinal ischemia and reperfusion injuries (R-IRI) damage neuronal tissue permanently. Recently, we demonstrated that Argon exerts anti-apoptotic and protective properties. The molecular mechanism remains unclear. We hypothesized that Argon inhalation exert neuroprotective effects in rats retinal ganglion cells (RGC) via an ERK-1/2 dependent regulation of heat-shock proteins. Inhalation of Argon (75 Vol%) was performed after R-IRI on the rats 0 left eyes for 1 h immediately or with delay. Abbreviations used: ChAT, choline acetyltransferase; CO 2 , carbon dioxcide; DAPI, 4 0 , 6-diamino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride hydrate; DMSO, dimethylsulfoxid; ERK, extracellular regulated protein kinase; FG, Fluorogold; GFAP, glial fibrillary acidic protein; HO-1, hemeoxygenase-1; HSP, heat-shock protein(s); Iba1, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1; JNK, c-Jun N-terminale kinase; MAPK, mitogen activated protein kinases; NF-jB, nuclear factor j B; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PD98059, ERK inhibitor; RGC, retinal ganglion cell(s); R-IRI, retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.