ABSTRACT Objective To investigate the expression of phosphorylated peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (p-PPARγ) in the aging thoracic aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and the inhibitory effect of rosiglitazone on the phosphorylation of PPARγ. Methods 16, 32 and 64 week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were randomly and respectively divided into WKY, SHR and SHR+rosiglitazone group (9 in each group). The rats in SHR+rosiglitazone group were treated with rosiglitazone (5 mg/kg, intragastrically) for 56 d, whereas normal saline was applied in WKY and SHR groups. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) of rats was measured by tail cuff method. Histopathological damage of thoracic aorta was analyzed using Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot were performed to test the level of p-PPARγ protein in the thoracic aorta arising from each group. Results The SBP in 16, 32 and 64 week-old SHR were significantly higher as compared with those in matched WKY rats (P Conclusions The PPARγ phosphorylation was observed in the thoracic aorta of SHR and its expression was increased by the increase of age. Furthermore, rosiglitazone inhibited the PPARγ phosphorylation and suppressed vascular aging in SHR.