OBJECTIVE: CyclinD1 and p21CIP1 are major proteins to regulate lung cell proliferation and involved in lung development and lung injury reparation. This study aimed to explore the expression manners of CyclinD1 and p21CIP1 at canalicular, saccular and alveolar stages during lung development in Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Lung tissues were obtained from fetal rats of 20 and 21 days gestational ages, and neonatal rats at 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days (n=6). Lung tissues were used for histopathology and the protein analysis of CyclinD1 and p21CIP1 (immunohistochemistry and Western blot). RESULTS: The strongest expression of CyclinD1 and the weakest expression of p21CIP1 occurred at 20-21 days gestation (canalicular stage). At the canalicular stage, CyclinD1 was mainly expressed in epithelial cells, and the expression of p21CIP1was negative. At the saccular stage, the expression of CyclinD1 decreased significantly and the p21CIP1 expression increased significantly. Positive expression of CyclinD1 and p21CIP1 was found in epithelial cells and interstitial cells. At the alveolar stage, the CyclinD1 expression was the lowest and the p21CIP1 expression was the highest. The positive expression of CyclinD1 was found in interstitial cells and that of p21CIP1 was found in epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The location and quantity of CyclinD1 and p21CIP1 expression are different at various stages during lung development in rats. A strongest CyclinD1 expression found in the canalicular stage may be associated a high lung cell proliferation. A strongest p21CIP1 expression found in the alveolar stage may be associated with alveolar maturity.