Objective:To explore the influence of hydroxyethyl starch(HES) 130/0.4 on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and the possible mechanism.Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were evenly randomized into four groups(n=6):the sham operation group,the I/R(IR) group,albumin + I/R(A-IR) group,and HES+I/R(H-IR) group; rats in the latter three groups were made into I/R models and were treated respectively with 7.5 ml/kg saline,5% albumin and HES 130/0.4 through femoral vein at 25 min of ischemia.At 180 min of reperfusion,animals were sacrificed and the pathological changes of myocardium were observed.Serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β and the myocardial NF-κB activity were also measured.Results: Histological examination showed that the injury in H-IR group was ameliorated compared with those in IR and A-IR groups.NF-κB activity and TNF-α ,IL-1β concentrations in the sham operation group were significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups (P<0.05); and the increases of the above parameters in H-IR group were smaller than those of the IR and A-IR groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: HES 130/0.4 can improve myocardial function and attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury,and the mechanism might be related to the inhibition of myocardial NF-κB activity and reduction of proinflammatory factors.