Aim To investigate whether caveolae/caveolin-1 participates in the progression of atherosclerosis. Methods C57BL/6J mice were fed with normal chow plus 1.5% cholesterol and 15% lord for 24 weeks. The area of atherosclerotic plaque, thickness of intima and media of aorta were determined by graphic analysis computer system; Electron microscopy was used to investigate the expression of caveolae in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC); the expression of caveolin-1 in vascular wall was detected by western blot. Results The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the atherosclerotic mice were elevated significantly by comparing with those in the normal mice. And the atherosclerotic lesion was widely distributed in the aorta of the atherosclerotic mice as shown by the lesion area of 3 744±340 μm 2 in the atherosclerotic mice. At the same time, the results of transmission electronic microscope showed that the caveolae in the VSMC from the atherosclerotic mice was fewer than that from normal mice. And no caveolae was observed in the foam cell derived from VSMC. Western blot demonstrated that expression of caveolin-1 decreased obviously in the aortic wall of the atherosclerotic mice. Conclusions It indicates that caveolae vary negatively with formation of VSMC and decreased expression of caveolin-1 may be the cause of the blocking of caveolae formation in the atheromatous area.