Objective: To explore the inhibitory effect of pharmacological ligand to PPARγ-rosiglitazone on smooth muscle cell proliferation of rat aorta.Methods: smooth muscle cells were prepared from rat aortas using explant technique and identified by their specific growth characteristic and immunocytochemistry.The fifth passage cells were made quiescent by serum starvation for 24 hours

and then cells were stimulated with PDGF-BB or bFGF(20ng/ml) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of rosiglitazone(1~10umol/L)

pretreated for 30 minutes.MTT assay was applied to assess cellular viability.Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis.Results: Under microscope

the cultured cells possessed "peak and valley" characteristics for smooth muscle cell.Immunocytochemical staining with specific mAb against α-actin demonstrated these cells were positive.Smooth muscle cell proliferation was induced by PDGF-BB or bFGF with an increase A490 in MTT.The cell number was reduced in the S phase and increased in the G0/G1 phase.Cell proliferation and transition from G0/G1 to S were inhibited using pretreatment of rosiglitazone in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion: Rosiglitazone has inhibitory influence on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by growth factors.