Aim To observe the effects of Cilostazol on rabbit atherosclerotic plaque and try to illustrate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of Cilostazol.Methods Thirty New Zealand male rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group(n=10),high-cholesterol group(n=10) and Cilostazol group(n=10).The levels of serum total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC) were detected by Enzymatic assay,and the level of C-reactive protein(CRP) were detected by immuno-precipitation;the aortic intimal thickness and plaque area of aorta were measured by pathomorphology;the expression of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) was detected with immunohistochemical method,and the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) was detected by RT-PCR.Results At the end of 12 weeks,the levels of TC,TG and LDLC in the Cilostazol group were significantly lower than that of high-cholesterol group(P<0.01),but higher than that of control group(P<0.01);the aortic plaque area and intimal thickness in the Cilostazol group were significantly lower than that in the high-cholesterol group(P<0.01),but higher than that in the control group(P<0.01);the NF-κB,MCP-1 and MMP-9 expression of Cilostazol group were significantly lower than that of high-cholesterol group(P<0.01),but higher than that of control group(P<0.01).Conclusion Cilostazol has obvious anti-atherosclerotic effects;reducing the expression of NF-κB,MCP-1 and MMP-9 may be the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of Cilostazol.