After 2 h intraocular injections of 19 and 190 nmoles ibotenic acid in the rat retina produced an intensive vacuolization of the inner plexiform layer and cellular alterations, in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer. These alterations consisted of either cytoplasmic swelling accompanied by clumping of the nuclear chromatin or darkening of the cytoplasm along with nuclear condensation. A week later the retinas were thinner than the controls due to the disappearance of the affected cells. Pre-treatment with diazepam prevents the morphological alterations induced by 19 nmoles ibotenic acid; mainly the swelling, which was completely prevented, while the darkening was reduced drastically, although some vacuolization of the inner plexiform layer is still present.