Background: The development of collateral vessels, which is important to prevent ischemic tissues from cell death, is impaired in patients with diabetes mellitus. The process is regulated by many positive and negative factors. The purpose of the study is to test the hypothesis that stroke patients with diabetes have angiogenesis deficiency and the possible mechanism is hyperglycemia attenuates neovascularization by downregulating proliferative properties of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and upregulating negative properties of angiostatin. Methods: Diabetes groups [Goto-Kakizaki (GK)] and respective controls (Wistar rats) underwent 1.5 h of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and then reperfused for 24 h and 7d. Immunohistochemisty was used to describe the change of vessel density. The expression levels of VEGF and angiostatin were estimated by western blot. Results: Compared with the controls, the diabetes groups had lower vessel density, more expression of angiostatin, and lower level of VEGF. Conclusions: These results showed angiogenesis was deficient in diabetes groups after ischemical reperfusion (I/R) injury. And the possible mechanism is hyperglycemia attenuates neovascularization by downregulating proliferative properties of VEGF and upregulating of negative properties of angiostatin. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.