Objective:To determine the efficacy and reliability of furozolidone-induced dilated cardiomyopathy model in rats and to evaluate it by transthoracic echocardiography.Methods:Wistar rats were fed with furazolidone for eight weeks.Left ventricu- lar end-diastolic diameter(LVDD)

left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVSD)

fraction shortening(FS)and left ventricular e- jection fraction(LVEF)were determined by echocardiogram.Myocardial cell morphology was observed by histopathologic slides. Results:Compared with the normal control group

the body weights

FS and LVEF were decreased obviously

whereas the ra- tios of heart weight and body weight and LVSD were increased significantly.The HE and VG staining displayed that Myocardial cells developed hypertrophy and degeneration

whereas the interstitial collagen fibers got hyperplasia.Conclusion: The DCM rats model can be established successfully hy feeding with furozolidone for long time.This method is simple with high success rate and low death rate.The transthoracic echocardiography can be applied in monitoring the animal model’s formation and effect.