Adipocyte-derived adiponectin (APN) is involved in the protection against cardiovascular disease, but the endogenous APN and its receptor expression in the perivascular adipocytes and their role in hypertensive vascular injury remain unclear. The present study aimed to detect endogenous APN and its receptor expression and their protective effects against hypertensive vascular injury. APN was mainly expressed in the perivascular adipocytes, while its receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 were ubiquitously expressed in the blood vessels. Angiotensin II (Ang II)‑induced hypertension resulted in a significant decrease of APN and AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 in the perivascular adipocytes and vascular cells. The migration assay used demonstrated that APN attenuated Ang II‑induced vascular smooth muscle cells migration and p38 phosphorylation Furthermore, the in vivo study demonstrated that APN receptor agonist AdipoRon attenuated Ang II‑induced hypertensive vascular hypertrophy and fibrosis. Taken together, the present study indicated that perivascular adipocytes‑derived APN attenuated hypertensive vascular injury possibly via its receptor‑mediated inhibition of p38 signaling pathway.