Abstract: AIM: To investigate the influence of candesartan on the expression of CRT and caspase-12 in rat myocardial tissues and its effects against left ventricular remodeling.METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley(SD) rats were equally randomized into sham group,double renal artery double clip group and candesartan intervention group 5 mg/(kg·day) per gavage.Six weeks later,mean arterial pressure(MAP) was measured,body weight,whole heart weight,left ventricular weights,HW/BW and LVWI were obtained,and expressions of CRT and caspase-12 in rat myocardial tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: MAP,HW/BW,LVWI and expressions of CRT and caspase-12 in myocardial tissues remarkably increased in double renal artery double clip group compared with those in sham group(P<0.05).However,candesartan significantly decreased MBP,HW/BW and LVWI,and downregulated the expressions of CRT and caspase-12 in myocardial tissues(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum stress may be involved in left ventricular remodeling caused by renal artery double-clip hypertension.Candesartan may exert some protective effect on the heart by inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum stress via downregulating the expression of CRT and caspase-12.