Abstract: AIM: To explore expression of myocardial adiponectin and its receptors in insulin-resistant (IR) rats and to study the effect of telmisartan (TMST). METHODS: Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were included in the study, ten of whom were put in group C and were fed with ordinary diet for 8 weeks. The other 40 rats were fed with a high-fructose diet for 4 weeks to induce IR rat model. Ten IR rats were selected as IR group and were fed with high-fructose diet and treated with 0.9% saline for the next 4 weeks. Another 10 IR rats were selected as TMST group and were fed with high-fructose diet and treated with telmisartan 5 mg/(kg·day) for the next 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, blood samples were obtained and APN and TNF-α were measured. Protein expressions of myocardial APN, AdipoR1, AdipoR2, PPARγ and TNF-α were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with those in group C, serum APN decreased and TNF-α level increased in IR group. Compared with those in IR group, serum APN increased and serum TNF-α level decreased in TMST group. Protein expressions of myocardial APN, AdipoR1 and PPARγ were attenuated with enhanced TNF-α in IR group compared with those in group C. Protein expressions of myocardial APN, AdipoR1 and PPARγ were enhanced with attenuated TNF-α in TMST group compared with those in IR group. CONCLUSION: In IR rats, myocardial protein expressions of APN, AdipoR1 and PPARγ decreased and myocardial protein expressions of TNF-α increased. TMST can increase the myocardial expressions of adiponectin AdipoR1 and PPARγ and reduce inflammation.