Objective To study the expressions of GABASUB>A/SUB> receptor subunits α2 and α3 after middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion in rats. Methods The animals in the experimental groups were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) using the intraluminal thread model. The rats were randomly distributed into MCAO group （EM>n/EM>=18）and sham group（EM>n/EM>=18）. Rats were sacrificed at the 7th day, 30th day and 6th month after operation. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expressions of GABASUB>A /SUB>receptor subunits α2 and α3 between MCAO and sham group. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results In the contralateral cortex, there were no significant difference of subunits α2 and α3 expression between MCAO group and sham group in 7 days after ischemia. In 30 days and 6 months, the expression of subunit α3 in Hl,Fr,Par1 and Par2 brain regions was markedly higher than that of sham group in contralateral cortex (P <0.05). In 30 days, the expression of subunit α2 in MCAO group was higher than that of sham group in Par1 and Par2 brain regions (SUP>P/SUP> <0.05); however, in 6 months the expression of subunit α2 was lower in Par2 and higher in Par1 compared with sham group (EM>P/EM> <0.05). Conclusion The expressions of subunits α2 and α3 have a generalized and lon