OBJECTIVE: To study on dynamic mechanism of restenosis after PTCA treated with Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD). METHODS: Twenty-eight male New Zealand rabbits with mimic restenosis after aortic artery dilatation were detected by prime in situ labeling in aortic endothelium. The items included gene expression of copper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) mRNA to analyse dynamic mechanism of restenosis. RESULTS: Seven days after aortic artery dilatation, PDGFR mRNA of aortic endothelium decreased clearly. The comparison between experimental and the control group showed significant difference (P < 0.05). By the same condition, the gene expression of SOD-1 was increasing, which showed a significant difference with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BYHWD increased SOD-1 gene expression of artery endothelium, to improve oxygen feed for ischemia reperfusion in the same way, BYHWD suppressed PDGFR mRNA expression to control cellular pathological proliferation.