Aim To observe the role of Ghrelin on myocardial metabolism key enzyme AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） signaling pathway. Methods Goto-Kakizaki （GK） rats （8-week-old males） were randomly divided into three groups with 8 rats in each group: GK group,metformin group（received metformin 350 mg/kg）,and Ghrelin group （received Ghrelin 200 μg/kg in twice daily）. Normal male Wistar kyoto rats （n8） served as normal controls. Four weeks later,the effects of Ghrelin on cardiac remodeling were evaluated by echocardiographic,hemody- namicand gene expression analysis （AMPK,Glut4 mRNA expression）. Results After 4 weeks,compared with Wistar rats and GK group,heart rate reduced,diastolic,systolic function improved in Ghrelin group （P<0.05） HOMA-IR index was lower than the GK rats in Ghrelin group （P<0.05） Myocardial mitochondria and myocardial microvascular of Ghrelin group rats were close to Wistar group. Myocardial AMPKα₂,Glut4 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in Ghrelin group compared with GK group （P<0.05）. Conclusions Intraperitoneal injection of Ghrelin can reduce the spontaneous GK rats insulin resistance,and improve left ventricular diastolic and systolic function. Its mechanism may be associated with longer-term increase of AMPK expression of myocardial cell and the promotion of the glucose transporter.