OBJECTIVE To investigate the inhibition effect of taurine (Tau) on the myocarditis induced by Coxsackie virus and adriamycin， and myocardial fibrosis followed by myocarditis and its mechanism .METHODS ①The model of viral myocarditis was built by Coxsackie virus B₃ in mice， meanwhile， mice were treated with Tau 1 000，500 and 250 mg·kg-1·d-1 by gastrointestinal administration. The contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)， aspartate amino transferase （AST），reatine kinase isozyme(CK-MB)and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in blood serum were assayed respectively. The changes of myocardial ultrastructure were observed by electronic microscope. ②The model of myocarditis in rats was built by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin(ADR) for 2.5 mg·kg-1·week-1. Meanwhile， rats were treated with Tau 400，200 and 100 mg·kg-1·d-1 by gastrointestinal administration. The contents of LDH，AST，CK， malondialdehyde （MDA）and activity of SOD were measured. TGF-β₁ and TNF-α levels were determined by the ELISA.Histopathology changes were detected by HE staining. RESULTS ①Compared with model group， the contents of LDH，AST and CK-MB of blood serum were significantly reduced and the activity of SOD was markedly enhanced in Tau 1 000 and 500 mg·kg-1·d-1groups（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.The RESULTS of electron microscope showed that Tau relieved myocardial damage induced by Coxsackie virus B₃. ②Compared with model group， the contents of LDH， AST， CK， MDA were decreased in Tau groups (400， 200 mg·kg-1·d-1). The activity of SOD was increased and the contents of TGF-β₁，TNF-α were decreased（P<0.05 or P<0.01）.The cardiac myocytes were arranged disorder. Tau relieved the damages of myocardium caused by adriamycin.CONCLUSION Tau can inhibit the damages of myocardium caused by Coxsackie virus B₃ and adriamycin through antioxidation， inhibit myocardial fibrosis followed by myocarditis by inhibition the expressions of TGF-β₁ and TNF-α.