Objective To explore the changes of cardiac functions in rats with spleen-yang deficiency pattern and its underlying mechanism. Methods 30 Sprage Dawley（ SD） rats were randomly divided into two groups: the blank control group and spleen-yang deficiency model group. After successful modeling with improper diet

exhaustive swimming and intragastric gavage of senna leaf（ Fanxieye）

changes of cardiac functions in the two groups were determined by using ultrasonic imaging with a high-resolution in vivo imaging system. Protein expression of brain natriuretic peptide（ BNP） in the myocardium was assessed by using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Contents of BNP and cyclic adenosine monophosphate（ c AMP） in the serum and myocardium were measured with Enzyme-linked Immuno Sorbent Assay（ ELISA）. The mRNA expression of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor（ b FGF） and protein kinase A（ PKA） were detected by using Reverse Transcription-polymerase Chain Reaction（ RT-PCR）.Results Compared with the blank control group

Stroke Volume（ SV） and Ejection Fraction（ EF） decreased（ P < 0. 05） while the contents of c AMP and BNP in serum and myocardium increased（ P < 0.05）. BNP protein expression and mRNA expression of b FGF and PKA increased（ P < 0. 05） in the model group. Conclusion Cardiac function seems to decline in spleen-yang deficiency rats. Contents of BNP and c AMP

and expression of PKA and b FGF all appears to have increased in the model group.