AimTo screen the genes that were related to atherosclerosis and ageing through the gene chip, and verified by qPCR further.MethodsExpression profiling of thoracic aortas of rats at 3 to 28 months of age was analysed by array.Then these genes in rats were detected by realtime PCR, and the carotid artery morphology change was observed by microscopy.ResultsWe got 155 genes (157 gene probes) that differentially expressed during the rat aging, and 39 genes which responded to caloric restriction (CR) and high calories (HC).These genes involved in glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, cell adhesion, oxidation, etc.qPCR result showed that CR can induce significant expression of several genes, including Ldha, Gyg, Hk2, Slc2a4, Dlat, Pex19, Cyld, Psmb4, and down-regulate Vcam1, Icam1, F2r, Tln1, Cyb5r3, Hspd1, Acvrl1 and Bgn expression,while the HC played opposite effect, which were consistent with the results of cDNA microarray.The carotid artery became markedly thickened after HC diet.Conclusion There is a group of genes that play a cross-talking network during vascular ageing and atherosclerosis, which expression responds to CR or HC and may be a consequence of atherosclerosis.