Aim To study the change of cellular growth factor receptor and its effect on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) under electrical field. Methods An electrophoresis apparatus was designed for applying the direct current electric fields to the cultured VSMC, which got from the aorta of rat. Interval photographs were used to analyse the direction and distance of VSMC migration. The cellular growth factors such as platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor (AT1R) and its type 2 receptor (AT2R) were studied by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence to show the mechanism relation to the migration of VSMC. Results The longer time of exposure to the 150 V/m electric field, the more electrotaxis the cells showed, that is, the distance of cellular migration increased obviously with the time of exposure to the electric field compared with control group. Under the direct current electric field, the expression of PDGFR were increased obviously and distributed asymmetricly on the membrane of VSMC. This receptor were mainly focused on the cathodal side of cellular membrane in electric field. The AT1R were also enhanced in the cells after exposure to the electric field, and the expression of AT2R had showed the changeless. Conclusion Our study indicates that electric fields applied to the rat VSMC can change the growth characteristic and increase the directly migration of VSMC. These effects maybe relate to the up-regulated expression and re-distribution of some cellular growth factors such as PDGFR, AT1R and AT2R.