Abstract: Objective: To establish the model of isoprenaline (ISO)-induced chronic heart failure(CHF) in rats and to assess the value.Methods: The ISO-induced group(ISO group,n=50) received two subcutaneous injections of 170 mg ISO per kilogram of body and the healthy control group(NS group,n=10) received two subcutaneous injections of 0.25 ml normal saline.The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),left ventricualr end-systolic dimension(LVESD),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) and shortening fractionl(FS) were detected by echocardiogram at 3,6 and 18 weeks after the injection.Eighteen weeks later,the mass ratio of heart ventricle and left ventricle were measured.Results: As time went on,the degree of CHF became more serious and there was an increase of mortality(P<0.01).Along with the decrease of LVEF and FS,LVEDD and LVESD increased significantly(P<0.01);the mass ratio of heart ventricle and left ventricle increased significantly(P<0.01).Conclusions: High-dose of ISO-induction is a simple,convenient and reliable method to trigger the rat model of CHF.Echocardiographic assessment is instructive in this species.