Despite a massive degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after optic nerve crush (ONC) in hooded rats only a minor increase in retinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity was found in the inner retina. Interestingly, a combination of ONC with the administration of the proinflammatory agent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but not LPS alone induces increased GFAP-immunoreactivity. In contrast albino rats showed elevated GFAP-immunoreactivity in response to both, LPS-administration and ONC with no further increase after a combination of both. These data demonstrate significant differences in retinal glia responsiveness between hooded and albino rats after optic nerve lesions.