Objective To explore the relationship and its mechanism of emphysema induced by different ways of rearing and tobacco smoke exposure with the atherosclerosis formation. Methods Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n= 8 ,each):a normal diet + tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) group ,a fat-rich diet + TSE group ,a limit intake + TSE group ,a normal diet group ,a fat-rich diet group ,and a limit intake group for 24 weeks. Lee's index ,serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) ,interleukin-6 (IL-6 ) ,adiponectin (APN ) levels ,mean linear intercept (MLI) ,mean alveoli number (MAN) ,the aortic pathology change ,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of aorta ,and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) level were collected. Results Tobacco smoke exposure ,fat-rich diet ,and limit intake increased the severity of emphysema. The microscopic features of aorta showed an early atherosclerosis in the tobacco smoke exposure groups , but no atherosclerosis in the non-smoking groups. Interactions between tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing on serum APN level (F= 10.68 ,P< 0.05) were found.In the tobacco smoke exposure groups ,Pearson correlation analysis showed positive correlations of aortic VEGF and BMP-2 levels with MLI ,serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels (r= 0.431 ,0.471 ,0 ,448 ,0.449 ,0.428 , 0.447 ,all P<0.05) ,and an negative correlation with MAN (r= -0.411 ,-0.442 ,P<0.05). Conclusions Both tobacco smoke exposure and different ways of rearing can influence the formation of emphysema. There is a positive correlation between the severities of emphysema and atherosclerosis , and systemic inflammation may be involved.