Following transient retinal ischemia, there is neuronal cell death, breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, activation of microglia and infiltration by hematogenous cells. The early appearance of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) following an ischemic event may be responsible for signaling some of the responses that lead to neurodegeneration. We have determined the time courses of changes in protein levels and cellular localizations of COX-2 in the rat retina after transient ischemia. In the normal rat retina, COX-2 immunoreactivity was present in neurons in the INL and ganglion cell layer (GCL). Six to 12 hr after ischemia, COX-2 immunoreactivity was upregulated/induced in horizontal cells, amacrine cells, retinal ganglion cells, displaced amacrine cells of the INL and GCL, and Müller cells. The NMDA-receptor antagonist, MK801, blocked the increased COX-2 protein level and COX-2 immunoreactivity in neurons of the INL and GCL, but did not affect the induction of COX-2 in Müller cells after ischemia. The selective COX-2 inhibitor, SC-58236, prevented apoptotic cell death and was neuroprotective against loss of retinal ganglion cells after ischemia. Following transient ischemia, the selective COX-2 inhibitor did not prevent breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier or activation of microglia. However, the selective COX-2 inhibitor reduced infiltration of hematogenous cells into the retina. These results suggest that the early, increased activity of COX-2 signals neurodegenerative events following retinal ischemia.