AIM: To observe the change of TNF-? mRNA in hypertrophic cardiac myocytes induced by pressure overload in rats and the effect of captopril. METHODS: Serum and heart were collected 42 days after the cardiac hypertrophy model made by pressure overload by abdomen aorta-constriction (AC). Hypertrophic parameter and the concentration of TNF-? in serum and left ventricle were determined by ELISA. TNF-? mRNA in cardiac myocytes was determined by in situ hybridization and analyze by ELIA image analysis system. The orientation of (TNF-?) mRNA in cardiac myocytes was also observed. RESULTS: Left ventricle hypertrophy was observed 42 days after operation. TNF-? mRNA in AC group elevated 98% compared to sham-operated group and descended 64.14% by captopril ((P