Objective Ependymal cells are thought to be the primary source of neural stem cells in the adult central nervous system. The purpose of this study is to examine spatial and temporal profiles of ependymal cell proliferation and migration after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Eighty male Sprague Dawley rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion after injection of 10 μL of 0.2% Dil into the lateral ventricle. Rats were sacrificed and brain sections were acquired for pathological evaluation and laser confocal imaging at day 1,3,7,11,14,21 and 28 after ischemia. Results The density of Dil-labeled cells in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone was significantly higher than that in the control group and these labeled cells dispersed in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone and/or were located in ependyma from day 1 to 11. In the ischemic ipsilateral cortex, some Dil-labeled cells occurred in peri-infarction and infarction of parietal region at day14 and peaked at day 21 when some Dil-labeled cell nodules were found in this region. During postischemic day 14-28, a significant decrease in labeled cell density in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone was coincident with a significant increase in labeled cells density in the cortex (peri-infarction and infarction). Conclusion The results indicate that ependymal cells proliferate and migrate after focal cerebral ischemia in the adult rat brain. Objective Effymal cells are thought to be the primary source of neural stem cells in the adult central nervous system. The purpose of this study is to examine spatial and temporal profiles of ependymal cell proliferation and migration after focal cerebral ischemia. Methods Eighty male Sprague Dawley rats underwent permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion after injection of 10 μL of 0.2% Dil into the lateral ventricle. Rats were sacrificed and brain sections were acquired for pathological evaluation and laser confocal imaging at day 1, 3, 7, 11, 14, 21 and 28 after ischemia. Results The density of DIL-labeled cells in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone was significantly higher than that in the control group and these labeled cells dispersed in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone and / or were located in ependyma from day 1 to 11. In the ischemic ipsilateral cortex, some Dil-labeled cells occurred in peri-infarction and infarction of parietal region at day14 and peake d at day 21 when some Dil-labeled cell nodules were found in this region. During postischemic day 14-28, a significant decrease in labeled cell density in the ischemic ipsilateral subventricular zone was coincident with a significant increase in labeled cells density in the cortex (peri-infarction and infarction). Conclusion The results indicate that ependymal cells proliferate and migrate after focal cerebral ischemia in the adult rat brain.