Aim To investigate the possibility of survival, differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) of rats in host myocardium and the effect on left ventricular function in doxorubicin-induced heart failure. Methods 55 female Wistar rats were separated randomly into four groups: normal control group (n=10), heart failure group (n=15), heart failure plus BMMSC transplantation group (n=15), heart failure plus induced BMMSC transplantation (n=15). Male Wistar rats BMMSC were isolated and induced by 10 μmol/L 5-aza for 4 weeks after first generation; then the cells were transplanted into rat heart by doxorubincin-induced heart failure after DAPI-labelled. After 4 weeks, left ventricular function were measured and the heart were checked by immunofluroscopy. Results BMMSC can survive and differentiate in host myocardium; the left ventricular function were significantly improved in BMMSC transplantation group compared with heart failure group, there was no difference between the two BMMSC transplantation groups. Conclusion BMMSC can survive in host myocardium after 4 weeks transplantation and can improve the left ventricular function of doxorubincin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy heart failure.