Aim To study the effects of methyl 3β-hydroxy-5α,6α-epoxycholanate(MHEC) and T-0901317 on the expressions of nitric oxide synthase(NOS),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI1) in the artery wall. Methods Apolipoprotein E-deficient(ApoE~(-/-)) mice were fed with an atherogenic diet,two types of liver X receptor(LXR) agonists(T-0901317 and MHEC) were orally administered daily at dose of 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks.SP immunohistochemistry analysis was performed to detect the expressions of induced NOS(iNOS),endothelial NOS(eNOS),PCNA and PAI-1 in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions. Results The expression of iNOS in the aortic wall was decreased in MHEC group and T-0901317 group compared with control group(p<0.01);while the expression of eNOS in the endothelium was increased significantly(p<0.01).The expressions of PCNA and PAI-1 in each group didn't differ markedly(p<0.05). Conclusions MHEC and T-0901317 could induce the expression of eNOS in the endothelium,while the expression of iNOS in the aortic wall was partly inhibited.This suggests that LXR agonists may take its anti-atherosclerosis role by inhibiting the inflammation in the artery wall and protecting the endothelial function.