AbstractNeuroglobin (Ngb), a recently discovered intracellular respiratory globin in neurons, may play a crucial role in oxygen homeostasis in the brain. We report preliminary findings indicating the presence of functional neuroglobin in primary cultures of cerebral cortical astrocytes. Reverse transcription real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RRT–PCR) and immunostaining confirmed such presence in cultured astrocytes isolated from newborn mouse brain. Ngb antisense treatment increased apoptosis in ischemic astrocytes. The discovery of Ngb in astrocytes may provide some insight into how oxygen homeostasis is regulated in the brain. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.