Aim To investigate the effect of SA on induction of ERK1/2 activity in rat pulmonary smooth muscle cells(PASMCs).Methods Western blot analysis was employed to identify the activation of ERK1/2 stimulated by SA at different time points and concentrations in cultured rat PASMCs.Results An unexpected observation showed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation was seen after treatment of SA for 2h at a high concentration(30 ?mol?L-1) but not at lower concentration(from 1 nmol?L-1 to 1 ?mol?L-1).Activation of ERK1/2 pathway could be inhibited by an ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 or a protein kinase A(PKA) activator isoproterenol.Conclusion Together,these results suggest that SA has a strong dual regulating effect upon ERK1/2 through PKC and/or PKA pathways in rat PASMCs.