Objective: To study the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (IMP) on cardiac function and mortality rate in septic rats. Methods: Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into a sham-operation group (sham group, n=10), normal saline group (NS group, n=20), and TMP group (n=20). The rats in the NS and IMP groups underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) to induce sepsis. Rats in the NS group were injected with NS (10 mL/kg) immediately after CLP and 6 h after CLP. Rats in the TMP group were injected with IMP (10 mg/kg) at the same time points. Twenty-four hours after modeling, the mortality rates were observed in each group. Cardiac function and serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- alpha) were also tested. The correlation between TNF- alpha and the ejection fraction (EF) was observed. Left ventricle specimens were reserved for histomorphologic study. Results: Compared with the sham group, the NS and TMP groups had decreased EF values and increased mortality rates and serum TNF- alpha levels (P<0.05). The TMP group had a comparatively lower mortality rate and TNF- alpha level and a higher EF value compared with the NS group (P<0.05). Histomorphology indicated that myocardial inflammation in the TMP group was mild compared with that in the NS group. There was a negative correlation between TNF- alpha level and EF value (r=-0.583, P=0.000). Conclusion: TMP could reduce the mortality rate of septic rats and had certain protective effects on cardiac function.