Abstract: Objective: To investigate the mechanism of remote ischemic postconditioning (RPostC) induced cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rat model. Methods: Anesthetized male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the two groups,ischemia/reperfusion (I/R,n=12) and remote ischemic postconditioning group (RPostC,n=12). Throughout the experiment,a lead Ⅱ electrocardiogram was continuously monitored. At the end of reperfusion,arterial blood sample was obtained to quantify plasma activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK). The infarct size was measured by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining method. The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax at mRNA level of left anterior myocardium were detected by RT-PCR analysis. Results: Compared with the I/R group,the levels of ventricular arrhythmia,CK,LDH release and infarct size in RPostC group were reduced significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05); and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax mRNA expression was increased (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Remote ischemic postconditioning has the significant protective effect on rat against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury,and the anti-apoptosis might be a mechanisms of cardioprotection.