AIM: To observe the changes in mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activity and gene expression of c-fos after coronary artery balloon injury in swine. METHODS: Six of the seventeen Chinese swine were as control group, and the others underwent coronary angioplasty to LAD or CLx. The animals were sacrificed at three and thirty days following the procedure. The cross-sections were stained hematoxylin-eosin, strichrome, and Verhoef-van Giesen after the target segments were dissected free from the hearts, and the morphologic characteristics were investigated by computer-assistant analysis system. The target segments were also processed to examine the gene expression of c-fos by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and to measure the activity of MAPKs by biochemistry. RESULTS: MAPKs activity and gene expression of c-fos in the dilated segments were significantly higher than that of normal segments three days after coronary balloon injury (51.5%, P