Objective   To detect the expression of BAT2L protein in developmental brain of rats.    Methods   Expression

distribution and location of BAT2L protein in developmental brain rats on embryonic day 18，postnatal days 1

7 and 15 and in adult at different time points were detected by Western blotting analysis

  immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence

respectively.    Results   Western blotting showed that the BAT2L protein expression level was higher in brain of rats on embryonic day 18

postnatal days 1 and 7 than on postnatal day 15 and in brain of adult rats. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that the BAT2L protein was distributed and located in cell membrane and cytoplasm of neurons but not in nuclei and extra-cellular space. Positive neurons were widely distributed in cerebral and cerebellar cortex

hippocampus and cerebral ganglion. The morphology of neurons was significantly different in newborn and adult rats. Positive prominences and branches of certain neurons were found in brain tissues of newborn rats but hardly in those of adult rats.    Conclusion   BAT2L protein is specifically expressed in cell body

membrane and prominence of neurons in brain of rats.