Aim To evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on aortic blood pressure and ion pump activities of vascular smooth muscle cell in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Methods Twelve twelve -week-old SHR were randomized into atorvastatin treated group (ATV group, n=6)and distilled water group (DW group,n=6),and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)as normal controls. Atorvastatin and appropriate amounts of distilled water were administered to ATV group for 12 weeks by gavage. Blood pressure of caudal artery was examined before and after treatment,serum titres of TC, TG, LDLC, activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca 2+-Mg 2+-ATPase of thoracic aorta smooth muscle cell were measured. Results Blood pressure in ATV group was much lower than that in DW group(161.8±9.9 vs 192.9±10.4,p<0.05). Activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca 2+-Mg 2+-ATPase of thoracic aorta smooth muscle cell were remarkedly higher in both ATV group and WKY group than those in DW group (5.20±0.54 vs 3.06±0.42,p<0.01;4.62±0.35 vs 2.98±0.17,p<0.05),(5.92±0.31 vs 3.06±0.42, p<0.01; 4.86±0.26 vs 2.98±0.17,p<0.01). Activities of Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca 2+-Mg 2+-ATPase of thoracic aorta smooth muscle cell were negatively relative to blood pressure(r=-0.426,r=-0.359,p<0.01). Conclusion Long-term administration of atorvastatin can effectively reduce blood pressure by elevating the ion pump activities of vascular smooth muscle cell.