Aim To study the mechanism and effect of antioxidant vitamin E on advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) stimulated signal transduction in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC). Methods Separation and quantitative measurement of diglyceride (DG) were studied with thin layer chromatography, autoradiography and radioenzymatic assay. Results The arbitrary fluorescence unit (AFU) of AGEs was significantly decreased when Vit E were incubated with glucose and BSA. The level of DG, which was stimulated by the AGEs, was decreased. While Vit E were preincubated with ASMC for 4 h. The level of DG induced by AGEs was also lower markedly. Conclusion Vit E can signicantly inhibit the formation of AGEs. It can also markedly attenuate the accumulation of DG in ASMC.