Objective:To investigate the effect of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion on the expression of transcription factor GATA-4. Methods:Sixteen adult healthy Balb/c mice were randomly divided into control group and experimental group. Heart ischemia was achieved by ligation of left anterior coronary descending branch. After 45 min ischemia, the ligation was removed for 4 h reperfusion. Echocardiography was used to determine the heart function. Heart samples were taken for further analysis. Results:I/R resulted in poor heart function, accompanying the downregulation of GATA-4 mRNA and protein expression. Histological examination showed there were more inflammatory cells in I/R heart. Conclusion:GATA-4 was modulated by I/R and probably responsible for I/R induced heart injury partially.