Ferroportin 1 is a newly discovered transmembrane iron export protein. It plays a key role in Fee+transport across the basal membrane of enterocytes in the gut. It has been suggested that this protein might have the same role in Fee+transport across the abluminal membrane of the blood-brain barrier as it works in enterocytes. However, the presence of ferroportin 1 in the brain has not been well determined. In the present study, we investigated expression of ferroportin 1 protein in different brain regions, including cortex, hippocampus, striatum and substantia nigra, in developing male Sprague-Dawley rats. The results provided direct evidence for the existence of ferroportin 1 protein in the rat brain. All brain areas examined have the ability to synthesize ferroportin 1 protein. The findings also showed that age has a significant effect on the expression of ferroportin 1 protein in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum and substantia nigra of the rat brain.