FAK is a non receptor kinase which colocalizes in focal adhesion plaques with several other proteins which interact to regulate the actin cytoskeleton. In this paper we have shown the expression of FAK in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC) along their myofibroblastic transformation. pp125(FAK) was localized, by confocal scanning laser microscopy, within focal adhesion plaques, together with talin and vinculin. Immunoblotting results showed that HSC expressed constitutively phosphorylated FAK. Preliminary results suggested that the amount of phosphorylated FAK decreases during the myofibroblastic transformation.