Objective To compare the expression of pancreatic triglyceride lipase in type-1 (T1A) and type-2 astrocytes (T2A). Methods Purified cultures of cortical T1A and T2A were prepared from neonatal rats. The expression of pancreatic triglyceride lipase mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). And the protein level was determined by immunocytochemistry with laser scanning confocal microscope. Results RT-PCR showed that the expression of pancreatic triglyceride lipase mRNA was negative in T1A and positive at a high level in T2A. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that pancreatic triglyceride lipase expressed at a low level in T1A and was mainly distributed in the nuclei. By contrast, pancreatic triglyceride lipase expressed at a high level in T2A and was distributed diffusedly in the cytoplasm, nuclei and processes. Conclusion T1A and T2A showed different expression levels of pancreatic triglyceride lipase. Pancreatic triglyceride lipase expressed at a high level in T2A, which indicated that T2A may play an important role in the metabolism of lipids in the central nervous system.