Abstract: Objective This study was performed to investigate the pathogenic role of autophagic cardiomyocyte death in heart failure. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomized into three groups: control group, heart failure group and 3MA group. In heart failure group, heart failure was induced by abdominal aorta constriction. The 3-methyladenine (3MA), a specific inhibitor on autophagy was used in a heart failure model of rats induced by induced by pressure overload produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta. We examined the heart function of rats in three groups. In addition, we analyzed the expression of autophagy associated protein, beclin-1 and cathepsin D in rat hearts using Western blotting. Results The expression of beclin-1 and cathepsin D in the hearts of heart failure rats were significantly increased as compared those in control group（P＜0.05）. 3MA significantly improved cardiac function and strongly downregulated the expression of beclin 1 and cathepsin D in abdominal aorta constriction-induced failing heart. Conclusion: Autophagic cardiomyocyte death plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure in rats induced by pressure overload.

Key words: autophagy, heart Failure, 3-methyladenine, Beclin-1, Cathepsin D