Adriamycin is one of the most effective and useful antineoplastic agents. Acute doxorubicin cardiotoxicity involved cardiomyocyte apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether adriamycin induced myocardium apoptosis through activation of nuclear factor kappaB in rat. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, ADR 5 mg/kg, ADR 10 mg/kg, ADR 15 mg/kg group and ADR + PDTC 200 mg/ml group. Myocardial apoptosis was detected by DNA fragmentation assay and TUNEL assay; Location and distribution of p-IkappaB alpha was observed by immunohistochemical assay; Myocardial expression of p-IkappaB alpha protein was assessed by Western blot analysis; Activity of NF-kappaB was evaluated by Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay. The myocardial apoptotic index, expression of p-IkappaB alpha, and binding activity of NF-kappaB increased significantly in ADR groups in dose-dependent manner. PDTC as a nonspecific inhibitor of NF-kappaB protected myocardium from apoptosis by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation. Adriamycin induces myocardium apoptosis through activation of nuclear factor kappaB in rat and NF-kappaB activation requires IkappaB alpha degradation.