The effects of berbamine (Ber) on intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in single cultured aortic VSMC were studied. Cultured VSMCs derived from rabbit aorta were loaded with fluorescent probe Fluo-3/AM and [Ca2+]i was measured by LSCM. In the presence of extracellular 2.0 mmol·L-1 calcium ([Ca2+]0), Ber blocked [Ca2+]i increase caused by KCl 60 mmol·L-1, ouabain 1 mmol·L-1, norepinephrine (NE) 30 mmol·L-1, serotonine (5-HT) 1 mmol·L-1 and ATP 30 mmol·L-1 respectively, and the time before fluorescent intensity (FI) reaches the peak value was also prolonged (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, Ber had no effect on the mobilization of [Ca2+]i induced by caffeine 40 mmol·L-1. The results suggested that Ber was an effective agent for blocking Ca2+ influx caused by opening the VDCC and activating the ROCC but had no effect on intracellular Ca2+ release. Ber significantly inhibited the [Ca2+]i elevation caused by Ouabain.