Abstract: Objective The experiment was designed to investigate the apoptosis in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells by 2450MHz microwave and to observe the protective effect of zinc.Methods According to microwave radiation intensity,retina pigment epithelial cells were divided into 10mW/cm² group,20 mW/cm² group and 30 mW/cm²(30 mW/cm² group was chosen as the protective group.Different concentration of zinc were added in cultured liquid.The moryhological variation of cells was observed by transmission electronic microscope.Apoptosis detection was taken to the cells on flowcytometry.Results The survival rate of cells of l0mW/cm² group didn't change dramatically,but a portion of cells congregated with their edge dimmed and the indices of lipid peroxidation did not significantly change.The amount of apoptosis cells increased significant1y.The above-mentioned variation was consistent with microwave intensity.Compared with group without zinc participation,the amount of apoptosis cells decreased in 0.2g·L^-1 group after exposured to 30 mW/cm² microwave.Both 0.4g·L^-1 group and 0.6g·L^-1 group in which the amount of apoptosis cells decreased were superior to 0.2g·L^-1 group.However,there was difference between 0.4g·L^-1 group and 0.6g·L^-1 group.Conclusion The apoptosis in retinal pigment epithelial cells cultured in vitro could be induced by microwave.The amount of apoptosis cells improved with the increase of microwave intensity.Zinc could prevent apoptosis in some extent.