Using maize anthers of 2 cultivars as experimental materials, the effects of mannitol, colchcine and proline concentration in pretreatment solution and pretreating temperature on the survival percentage of isolated microspore were investigated. The survival percentage of isolated microspores were able to be respectively and obviously improved by pretreating anthers with mannitol from low to high concentration (0.35 mol/L, 24h --> 0.40 mol/L, 24h --> 0.45 mol/L, 24h), or with colchicine 200 mg/L or with proline 200 mg/L and pretreating at 15 degrees C for 48h. The probable mechanism of pretreatments was discussed.