AIM: To investigate the effects of insulin on aortic constriction caused by endothelin-1(ET-1) in normal and hyperglycemic rats. METHODS: Hyperglycemic rat models were prepared. Two aortic rings were immersed in the Krebs-Hensleit fluid with and without insulin (40 mIU/L) and the responses of rings to 10 -9 mol/L ET-1 were observed. RESULTS:ET-1 induced more obvious aortic ring constriction in normal rats than those in hyperglycemic rats ( P