Objective:To investigate the early effects of ischemic preconditioning(IPC) on expressions of IKKβ,NF--资B,TNF-α mRNA and the pathological changes in rat kidney allograft tissue. Methods:Thirty-six male SD rats were served as donors and recipients. Animals were randomly divided into the following three groups:the sham-operated group(A), regular transplantation group (B),and treatment group(C). Animals in A group were subjected to exploratory laparotomy. B group received orthotopic homotransplantations. IPC in C group was administered with 15 minutes of ischemic followed by 10 minutes of reperfusion. The changes of renal function and the degree of ischemic reperfusion injury of kidney graft were observed 24 hours after renal transplantation. Expressions of TNF-α,IKKβ,NF-kB p65 subunit mRNA were assessed by RT-PCR,respectively. Results:The degree of renal graft tubules injury in C group was significantly lower than that in the B group(P < 0.01),as well as the transcription of TNF-α(vs non-IPC group P < 0.01) after 24 hours of transplant. No significant difference of the expression of IKKβ mRNA and p65 mRNA was found between C group and B group(P > 0.05). The levels of Scr and BUN were higher than that in A group, whereas no significant difference was found between C group and B group(P > 0.05). Conclusion:One cycle schedule of preconditioning attenuated rat renal allograft ischemia reperfusion injury in early phase. The inhibition of TNF-α expression and the positive feedback of TNF-α/NF-kB signaling pathways might play the role for the protection.