Abstract: Background: Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) modulate intracellular lipid metabolism by regulating fatty acid uptake and intracellular transport. Aim: This study was conducted to identify and compare FABP subtypes expressed in aorta and cultured Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) derived from Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and Stroke-prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHRSP). Methods: mRNA expressions of FABP subtypes were determined by Reverse Transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). The uptake of radioactive fatty acid by aorta was evaluated by a liquid scintillation counter. Results: RT-PCR analysis detected mRNA of heart FABP (H-FABP) and epidermal FABP (E-FABP) in the aorta and VSMCs. H-FABP mRNA expression was slightly higher in the VSMCs from SHRSP than from WKY and E-FABP mRNA expression was significantly higher in the VSMCs from SHRSP. The uptake of radioactive [3H]-oleic acid was significantly higher in aorta isolated from SHRSP than in that isolated from WKY. Subsequently, the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) activators on FABP expression in VSMCs was investigated. Fenofibrate, but not WY-14643, significantly reduced H-FABP mRNA expression in both WKY and SHRSP cells, whereas it increased E-FABP mRNA expression only in WKY cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased FABP expression in the VSMCs from SHRSP may be relevant to the initiation and establishment of vascular disorders and that fenofibrate may alter lipid metabolism in VSMCs by differentially modulating FABP expression via a mechanism that is independent of PPARα activation.