Abstract: AIM To evaluate the expressive evolution of HIF-1α and VEGF in pressure-overloaded rat hearts. METHODS Forty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n=15) and model group (n=30). Pressure-overloaded rat heart models were produced by abdominal aortic banding.After 6 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively, myocardium and hemodynamic performance were examined, and the expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in myocardium of rats were determined. RESULTS After 6 weeks, left ventricular hypertrophy increased in model group compared with sham-operated group (P<0.05). The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF increased significantly in the model group (P<0.05). After 12 weeks, the expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF in the model group increased compared with those in the sham-operated group (P<0.05), but the expressions decreased significantly compared with those during the 6th week in the same group. CONCLUSION When myocardial hypertrophy caused by pressure-overload exists, HIF-1α and VEGF expressions increase significantly but decrease dramatically when heart failure occurs.