Objective To explore the possible mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury（MIRI）. Methods Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group

a MIRI group

a farnesoid X receptor（FXR） inhibitor group

and an electroacupuncture pretreatment group

with 10 rats in each group. The rats in all groups were bound and fixed for seven days; and after seven days

the model of MIRI was developed in all groups except for the sham operation group. The FXR inhibitor group was injected with 0.4μl/g FXR inhibitor z-Guggulsterone into the tail vein on day 8 before modeling. The electroacupuncture pretreatment group administered electroacupuncture at ‘Neiguan’（PC 6）

‘Zusanli’（ST 36） and ‘Guanyuan’（RN 4） acupoints since day 1 for seven days

and the model was developed on day 8. After modeling

the serum interleukin-8（IL-8） concentration

the enzyme activity of myocardial cell mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme

Na

+

-K

+

-ATPase

and Ca

2+

-Mg

2+

-ATPase

and the expression of myocardial tissue FXR gene were measured. Results Compared to sham operation group

the MIRI group had significantly higher IL-8 concentration

lower enzyme activity of respiratory chain enzyme Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、ⅣNa

+

-K

+

-ATPase

and Ca

2+

-Mg

2+

-ATPase

as well as higher expression of FXR gene（P

<

0.01）. The IL-8 concentration significantly decreased in FXR inhibitor group and electroacupuncture group when compared to MIRI group

and the enzyme activity of respiratory chain enzyme Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ Na

+

-K

+

-ATPase

and Ca

2+

-Mg

2+

-ATPase significantly decreased while the FXR gene expression level significantly decreased（P

<

0.01）. The IL-8 concentration level and FXR gene expression level of electroacupuncture group were significantly higher than those of FXR inhibitor group

while the activities of Na

+

-K

+

-ATPase

Ca

2+

-Mg

2+

-ATPase

and respiratory chain enzyme Ⅲ and Ⅳ were significantly lower（P

<

0.05）. Conclusion Electroacupuncture pretreatment may help improve MIRI through reducing serum IL-8 concentration

increasing enzyme activity of myocardial mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme and ATPase

and downgrading the expression of FXR gene.