AIM: To study the pathological relationship of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and monocyte/macrophage infiltration with focal brain ischemia. METHODS: Immunohistochemical technique and focal brain ischemia/reperfusion model were used in the study in order to explore profiles and time-course of VCAM-1 expression and monocyte macrophage (ED2 positive cell) infiltration in ischemic rat brain. RESULTS: VCAM-1 was up-regulated in microvascular endothelial cells in ischemic cortex at 1h postischemia, and continuously expressed during the time of reperfusion. ED2 positive cells infiltrated into ischemic cortex at 1h iscehmia/ 2h reperfusion and then ED2 positive cells increased gradually with the time of reperfusion, ED2 positive cell infiltration showed apparently relationship with VCAM-1 expression, and both of them exhibited the some changes of time-dependence. CONCLUSION: Cerebral ischemia induced VCAM-1 expression and ED2 positive cell infiltration and VCAM-1 may regulate the recruitment of ED2 positive cells in the ischemic brain region. The results suggested that VCAM-1 and ED2 positive cells may be participated in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic injury.