Aim To research the change of water content in the atherosclerotic rabbits’ aortic intima during atherosclerosis at 8th, 16th, 24th week after high-cholesterol diet. Methods 45 New Zealand rabbits were divided into common control group, high-cholesterol diet group and simvastatin group randomly and equally. At the end of 8th, 16th and 24th week, we detected the serum levels of total cholesterol （TC）, triglyceride （TG） and low density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDLC） respectively. Aorta were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and were studied with optical microscope. The changes of thickness of aortic intimal were measured and aortic intima of aortic arch were stripped. The water content of atherosclerotic plaques was detected with the vacuum freeze drying. Results ①The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were higher in high-cholesterol diet group （P<0.05）. ②Common control group: the intima was smooth and glossy High-cholesterol diet group: the intima was thicker and a lot of foam cells and fatty streak plaques in the intima Simvastatin group: thinner of intima and fewer foams cells and fatty steak plaques than high-cholesterol group. ③In the high-cholesterol diet group, the atherosclerosis was formed and the water content in 16th and 24th week group was lower than 8th week group （P<0.05）. Compared with that of 16th week, the water content was reduced at the end of 24th week （P<0.05）. In the simvastatin group, the water content was much more than the high-cholesterol diet group at the end of 16th and 24th week （P<0.05）. Conclusion During atherosclerosis of rabbit, the water content was reduced in atherosclerotic plaques.