Abstract: In this paper, the localization and distribution of ghrelin-immunopositive neurons in the brain, the development of these neurons in the major nucleus of hypothalamus in 2, 16, 30, 44 and 58-day-old, and the influence of fasting 12, 24, 48 h and refeeding 4 h in 30-day-old on these neurons in broiler chickens were investigated by immunohistochemical staining and microscopic image analysis. The results showed that the ghrelin-immunopositive neurons were observed in the nucleus periventvicularis accuatas, the nucleus paramedianus, the nucleus medialis, the area periventricularis, the area rostromedialis and the area rotrolateralis hypothalami, the nucleus rotundus and the nucleus ovoidali, the gray matter of colliculus mesencephali and the nucleus ruber, the nucleus vestibularis ventrolateralis, the nucleus cerebellaris medialis and the granular layer of cerebellar cortex, and the polymorphic layer of cerebral cortex; with the chicken growth, the number of these neurons was increased, their immunopositive reaction level was enhanced, but their density was decreased; during the fasting and refeeding, their immunopositive reaction level was weakened and their density was decreased.