Objectives To investigate the dynamic change of galectin-1 in myocardium of mice with viral myocarditis (VMC). Methods A total of 58 male BALB/c mice were selected and randomly divided into CVB3 group (n=50) and control group (n=8). Mice in CVB3 group were infected with 0.10 ml 10-5/L CVB3 through intraperitoneal inoculation, and 8 mice were killed on day 7, 10, 14 and 28 respectively after inoculation. Mice in control group inoculated with 0.10 ml eagle reagent was killed on day 28. The myocardial pathological changes were observed using light microscope. In addition, expressions of serum galectin-1 were detected by ELISA and expressions of myocardial galectin-1 were detected by real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). Results Compared with control group, the myocardial expression of galectin-1 mRNA in CVB3 group was obviously increased on day 7 and day 10 (all P<0.05);the serum concentration of galectin-1 in CVB3 group was obviously increased on day 7, day 10 and day 14 (all P<0.05). Conclusion The expressions of galectin-1 in myocardium of mice with viral myocarditis were in dynamic changes. Galectin-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis and development of viral myocarditis.