Aim To observe the transcript and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(hUVEC) cultured with high glucose in vitro and investigate the relationship between it and protein kinase C(PKC) pathway. Methods hUVEC were cultured in vitro with glucose at different concentrations or for different cultural time and cultured with PKC inhibitor GF109203X or PKC activator PMA respectively.The transcript of VEGF was measured by RT-PCR.The protein expression of VEGF and PKCβBⅡ was detected with immunocytochemistry. Results The transcript and protein expression levels of VEGF in high glucose groups or PKC activator PMA group were higher than control group or PKC inhibitor GF109203X group(p<0.05 or p<0.01).Cultured with glucose at 22 mmol/L,the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF increased in 72 h,the protein expression of VEGF reached the summit at 72 h,and then began to decrease(p<0.01).Cultured with PMA,the transcript of VEGF increased within 6 h,and then decreased.The protein of PKCβⅡ seemed to translocate to cell membrane from nucleus after treated with 22 mmol/L glucose for 2 h.However,PKC inhibitor GF109203X can inhibit the phenomena above. Conclusions The transcript and protein expression of VEGF gene increased in hUVEC,cultured with high glucose.High glucose induced the expression of VEGF gene via PKC pathway in hUVEC.