Aim: To provide seed cells for artery tissue engineering to construct tissue engineered artery. Methods: The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory for Surgery of Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences from March to May 2004. The smooth muscle cells were isolated from adult canine aortas by tissue section adherence methods followed by subculture, cell passage, identification and morphological observation. Results: The smooth muscle cells inahigh purity could be obtained by strict operation. Morphological characteristics of the smooth muscle cells are remarkable. But the ability of proliferation and modality of the smooth muscle cells changed with the more cultured passages. Conclusion: The smooth muscle cells of adult canine aortas can served as seed cells for artery tissue engineering. The ability of proliferation of smooth muscle cells should be enhanced further.