Aim To investigate mechanism for accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic patients, advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) of rat was observed. Methods SMC were isolated and cultured from the thoracic aorta of rat, then were exposed to AGE-BSA of 200 mg/L (glycated with glucose of 0, 5, 20, 50, and 80 mmol/L) for 24 h, exposed to AGE-BSA of 200 mg/L (glycated with glucose of 50 mmol/L) for 0, 12, 24, and 36 h. Expression of MCP-1 was quantified by RT-PCR with α-actin as internal standard. Results The expression of MCP-1 mRNA were increased by AGE-BSA incubated with glucose concentration of 20, 50, 80 mmol/L (p<0.005), respectively. After intervention of AGE-BSA for periods of 12, 24 and 36 h, MCP-1 expression was increased markedly (p<0.001). Conclusion AGEs increased the expression of MCP-1 mRNA in aortic smooth muscle cells of rats.