Objective To study the effects of MMP-9 (Matrix Metalloproteinase-9, MMP-9) in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) by localizing the expression of MMP-9 in the aneurysmal tissues. Methods By means of immunohistochemistry, the frozen sections (5 μm) with aneurysmal tissues (n = 10) were incubated with MMP-9 antibody-added agents, then the sections were stained and observed under the microscope to localize the expression of MMP-9, which displayed a brown precipitate within the arterial walls. The normal arterial wall tissues(n= 10)and the diseased arterial wall tissues from the arterial occlusive diseases (AODs) (n= 15) were also immunized exactly the same way as control. Results A quantity of positive granules which appeared within the aortic media showed the strong expression of MMP-9 in the AAAs, with the positive rate reaching 95%(19/20), while no expression of MMP-9 was observed in the normal artery. However, the scattered distributed positive granules were scen within the arterial wall of some cases of the AODs, implying the weak positive expression of MMP-9 in this disease with the positive rate of 26.7%(4/15). There was a significant difference of the expression of MMP-9 within the arterial wall between the AAAs and AODs(P＜0. 01). Conclusion High expression of MMP-9 within the aortic media faciliatates the degradation of collagen and elastin fibres and subsequent dilation of the aortic artery , thus playing an important role in the pathogenesis of AAAs. To refrain MMP-9 from enhanced expressing within the aortic wall is of clinical significance in the prevention and treatment of AAAs.