We recently characterized male DahlS.Z-Lepr fa /Lepr fa (Dahl salt-sensitive (DS)/obese) rats, which were established from a cross between Dahl salt-sensitive and Zucker rats, as a new animal model of metabolic syndrome (MetS). We have now investigated cardiac pathophysiology and metabolic changes in female DS/obese rats in comparison with homozygous lean female littermates (DahlS.Z-Lepr + /Lepr + , or DS/lean, rats). Animals were maintained on a normal diet and were subjected to echocardiography followed by various pathological analyses at 15 weeks of age. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in female DS/obese rats than in DS/lean females at 12 weeks of age and thereafter. The survival rate of DS/obese rats was significantly lower than that of DS/lean rats at 15 weeks. Body weight, as well as visceral and subcutaneous fat mass were significantly increased in DS/obese rats, which also manifested left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and marked LV hypertrophy and fibrosis. In addition, myocardial oxidative stress and inflammation were increased in DS/obese rats compared with DS/lean rats. Serum insulin and triglyceride levels as well as the ratio of low-density lipoprotein-to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were markedly elevated in DS/obese rats, whereas fasting serum glucose concentrations were similar in the two rat strains. The phenotype of female DS/obese rats is similar to that of MetS in humans. These animals also develop salt-sensitive hypertension and LV diastolic dysfunction as well as LV hypertrophy and fibrosis, and these changes are associated with increased cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation. Keywords: cardiac hypertrophy; diastolic dysfunction; metabolic syndrome; myocardial fibrosis; salt-sensitive hypertension INTRODUCTION Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a complex of highly debilitating disorders including hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, is associated with the development of visceral obesity. 1 Adipocytes in visceral fat of obese humans secrete a variety of biological agents that are known as adipocytokines and include proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a and interleukin (IL)-6 as well as angiotensinogen and leptin. 2 Recent studies have revealed intricate interactions among adipocytes, the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) that contribute to the disturbed metabolic state associated with obesity. 3 Indeed, adipose tissue is thought to have an important role in the development of both hypertension and other complications related to insulin resistance. Activation of the RAAS and associated oxidative stress can result in mitochondrial abnormalities, altered bioenergetics and the accumulation of lipids in the heart, and thereby increase susceptibility to metabolic cardiomyopathy. 4