Aim To investigate the dynamic changes of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)activity in balloon-injured arteries,rabbit aortas(n=18)were subjected to abrasion injury using 4F Forgarty catheter. The arterial tissues were collected and nuclear protein of the tissue was extracted at 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h following injury. NF-κB activity in balloon-injured arteries were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. No detectable NF-κB activity was found in normal arteries of rabbits,while NF-κB binding activity in balloon-injured arteries increased apparently,which was detected immediately following injury,peaked at 12 hours,lasted 48 h, returned to baseline at 72 h. The results of density scan for binding blot showed that NF-κB activity was enhanced more than 3.7 fold at 12 h(n=4,P<0.01),2.5 fold at 24 h (n=4,P<0.01),and 1.4 fold at 48 h (n=4,P<0.05), compared with baseline activity (0 h)of NF-κB. The present data showed that balloon injury could trigger NF-κB activation in arteries, which was likely to be involved in the proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells.