Objective: To establish a stable pentobarbital sodium-induced model of acute cardiac insufficiency in the rats and compare the effects of different cardiotonics. Method: Male Wistar rats weighing 220~260 g were randomized into three groups

namely

modeling group

dobutamine group and deslanoside group.The acute cardiac insufficiency model was established in the rats by the intravenous administration of pentobarbital sodium.In dobutamine deslanoside and Astragalus mongholicus groups the rats with cardiac insufficiency were treated with intravenous injection of with dobutamine

deslanoside and radix astragali separately.The left ventricular pressure

heart rate and dp ·dtmax-1 were measured using physiological recording system. Result: Pentobarbital sodium injection established a stable model of acute cardiac insufficiency.The cardiac function in the rats with the cardiac insufficiency was significantly improved by the injection of dobutamine and radix astragali.However

no significant alteration was observed in the rats treated with deslanoside injection. Conclusion: A stable model of acute cardiac insufficiency could be established in the rats by administration of pentobarbital sodium.The model is applicable to dobutamine or radix astragali related studies

but not suitable to the studies involving deslanoside.