Aim In order to investigate the effect of local application of prostaglandin E1(PGE1)-loaded fibrin glue on intimal hyperplasia after balloon-induced injury to common carotid artery in rabbits. Methods Forty healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control group,PGE1 group,fibrin glue group and normal group.Each group had 10 rabbits.The right common carotid artery endothelial was denuded with balloon catheter,and the intima was injured.Two weeks after intervention,the models were sacrificed and defined segments were sectioned and measured by means of morphology and immunohistochemistry.The images were digitalized by computer video analysis system.Meanwhile the phenotypes of the vascular smooth muscle cells were observed with electron microscope. Results The intimal areas,the degree of the vascular stricture,the expression of PCNA in smooth muscle cells and the number of synthetic smooth muscle cells in PGE1 group decreased significantly compared with the control group(all p<0.01).No significant deviation was found between control group and fibrin glue group(p>0.05). Conclusions PGE1 can significantly suppress the intimal hyperplasia and inhibit smooth muscle cells proliferation in injured arterial by local fibrin glue.Thus,PGE1 may have potentially clinical prospect in prevention and treatment of restenosis after angioplasty.