Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is one of the main enzymes involved in the formation and metabolism of the neurotransmitter glutamate. In the present study, we investigated the distribution of the GDH-immunoreactive cells in the rat brain using monoclonal antibodies against bovine brain GDH isoprotein. GDH-immunoreactive cell were distributed in the basal ganglia, thalamus and the nuclei belong to substantia innominata, and its connecting area, subthalamic nucleus, zona incerta, and substantia niqra. We could see GDH-immunoreactive cells in the hippocampus, septal nuclei associated with the limbic system, the anterior thalamic nuclei connecting between the hypothalamus and limbic system, and its associated structures, amygdaloid nuclear complex, the dorsal raphe and median raphe nuclei and the reticular formation of the midbrain. The GDH-immunoreactive cells were shown in the pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex, the Purkinie cells of the cerebella cortex, their associated structures, ventral thalamic nuclei and the reticular thalamic nuclei that seem to function as neural conduction in the thalamus.