Our results demonstrate that (1) ischemic insult by acute IOP elevation triggers OPA1 release in the early neurodegenerative events (within 12 h), (2) blockade of glutamate receptor activation prevents OPA1 release and apoptotic cell death as well as increases OPA1 gene and total protein expression at 12 h after ischemia, and (3) blockade of glutamate receptor activation induces increases of Bcl-2 expression but no changes of Bax expression at 12 h after ischemia. The gene discussed is OPA1; the disease is ischemia.