AIM: To investigate the effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) on intimal proliferation and expression of related cell cycle regulatory factors after vascular injury in rats. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups :sham operation group, balloon injury group(this group included balloon 48 h,7 d and 14 d subgroup) and balloon+L-Arg group. Neointima area were calculated morphologiocally. The expression of cyclin dependent kinase-2(CDK2),cyclin E and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were measured by means of immunohistochemical technique and computer image analyzer. RESULTS: After vascular balloon injury, the level of plasma NO decreased, CDK2、cyclin E and PCNA expressed in the media at 48 h and in the neointima at 7 d and 14 d but with low and undetected expression in the media, the expression of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA increased with the intima thickening. Compared with balloon 14 d group, the plasma NO level increased (P＜0.01）, the neointima area reduced by 59.1%(P＜0.01) and the positive expression indexes of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA decreased by 36.1%, 46.3% and 76.2% respectively in balloon+L-Arg group (P all＜0.01）. CONCLUSION: L-Arg can effectively repress intima proliferation after vascular injury, which may be associated with its inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell through downregulating the excessive expression of CDK2, cyclin E and PCNA.