Aim To investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on insulin resistance and the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in the adipose tissue in ovariectomized rats. Methods Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the sham control group,the ovariectomized group and the ovariectomized+rosiglitazone group.The changes of insulin sensitive index(ISI),blood pressure were measured. The content of visceral adipose depots was observed.The expression of adiponectin and its receptors(AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) in the visceral adipose tissue were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results Compared with the sham control group,the blood pressure and the content of visceral adipose depots were significantly increased,ISI was significantly decreased,and the expressions of adiponectin and AdipoR1/R2 in visceral adipose were significantly decreased in the ovariectomized rats.Compared with the ovariectomized group,these effects were reversed by rosiglitazone in the ovariectomized+rosiglitazone group. Conclusion Rosiglitazone improved insulin resistance by up-regulating the expression of adiponectin and its receptors in the adipose tissue in ovariectomized rats.