AIM: To study rat astrocyte proliferation in ipsilateral hippocampus following focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: Ischemia was induced by temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In hippocampus of rats at 3, 7 and 30 days after MCAO, the numbers and anatomic distribution of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The protein expression of GFAP and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the ipsilateral hippocampus were analyzed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Astrocytes appeared hypertrophic, with increased process thickness and numbers at 7 days after MCAO, and the highest density of astrocytes were seen at 30 days in the CA1, CA2 regions of the ipsilateral hippocampus. Western blot analysis revealed that GFAP levels were normal at 3 days, but increased by 7 days and remained elevation at 30 days. Western blot analysis of PCNA protein also revealed identified upregulation PCNA at 3 days after MCAO and the expression peaked at 7 days. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that focal cerebral ischemia in the rat results in a rapid response, a process often referred to as reactive astrogliosis or glial scarring, from resident astrocytes of the ipsilateral hippocampus to the side of ischemia. [