Abstract: Objective To study the bcl-2 and bax expression in rabbit exposured to local vibration and its significance.Methods 18 rabbits were divided into three groups atrandom.Two groups were tested by different vibration power and one was normal control group.SABC immunohistochemistry was used to detect the ex pression of bax and bcl-2.Results Light microscopy showed irregular proliferation in the tunica intima and tunica media,especially in the former;spoted smooth muscle cells,proliferation of febrous connective tissue,and degeneration of partial tissues and infiltration of inflammatory cells were observed in the vibration group.Bax expression was significantly higher than that in the normal controls(P<0.05,P<0.01),bcl-2/bax ratio of the cells in the vibration group was significantly lower than that in the controls.Conclusion Segmental vibration may cause the endothelial cell apoptosis;and there may be some relationship between the mechanism of hand arm vibration disease and endothelial cell apoptosis.