AIM: To study the potential function of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in apoptosis through overexpression of AChE in Normal Rat Kidney (NRK) cells. METHODS: AChE activity was detected by the method of Kaovsky and Roots. Activated caspase-3 was analyzed by Weste blotting and immunofiurescence with antibody special to activated caspase-3 fragment. The expression plasmids were constructed in pcDNA3.1 containing AChE gene or a fragment of AChE antisense that were got from RT-PCR. Stable expression cell lines were selected by G418 in cells transfected by lipofection. AChE expression was analyzed by RT-PCR and Weste blotting. The proliferation rates of transfected cells were examined by the growth curve and cloning efficiency. MTT assay was used to analyze the cell viability. RESULTS: The proliferation rate of the cells transfected with AChE was retarded and the cloning efficiency was lower (28.2 %±3.1% and 48.7 %±2.1%) than cells transfected with vector (56.1%±0.3 %) or AChE-antisense (77.7 %±2.2 %). After 2 d the various clone types were deprived of serum, the residue cell viability were 10.4 %±4.6 % and 12.6 %±6.7 % in the cells transfected with AChE, and 27.4 %±3.5 % in cells with vector, and 50.3 %±7.8 % in cells with AChE-antisense. CONCLUSION: During apoptosis, increase of AChE protein is to inhibit cell proliferation, and then to promote apoptosis in NRK cells.