Aim The efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is limited by a high incidence of chronic restenosis which has been reported to be as high as 30%～50% within 3～6 months. This study was designed to establish an animal model to study the mechanism of restenosis and methods of preventing restenosis. Methods Right common carotid artery (CCA), internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) were exposed with a mdline linear skin incision in the neck. The right CCA 2 cm proximal to the carotid bifurcation and the right ICA at orifice were temporary occluded by aneurysmal straight clips. The right ECA was ligated at the exposed distal end. A 2.0 cm or 1.5 cm balloon catheter was used to induce injury of the righe CCA. The catheter was introduced into the CCA though a small window opened in the ECA, which is proximal to the ligation site. After the clip of the CCA was removed the deflated catheter was passed through the CCA into the aortic arch. An inflated balloon with 8 atomospheric pressure in the aortic arch was slowly pulled back to the ECA to mechanically expand the righ CCA. At 3rd, 7th, 15th days after the balloon injury, the rabbits were killed and histological and morphometric analysis of the right CCA were performed (left CCA as control). Results Histological and morphometric analysis indicated thrombosis is main changes in early stage and followed by VSMC from media into intima and unregulated proliferation and lead to obviously intimal thicking and stenosis at 15 days after PTA. Conclusion For its adventages such as low mortality, high practicability and good reproduce, the model is an ideal model for study of the mechanism and the prevention of restenosis.