Objective：To investigate the contribution of BDNF to exercise-induced angiogenesis in post-myocardial infarction rat hearts. Methods：Forty eight male SD rats（12 weeks old）were randomly divided into the following experimental groups：a sham infarction（Sham）group，a sedentary MI（MIC）group，a MI+exercise（MIE）group，a MI+exercise+K252a（MIEK）group. The MI model was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery，and exercised rats received 8 weeks of treadmill running. At the end of the exercise protocol，BDNF mRNA and protein expression（Western blot，RT-PCR and immunostaining）were measured，tropomyosin-related kinase B（TrkB）protein expression and phosphorylation levels were measured by Western blot，the angiogenic response was investigated by immunostaining，and cardiac function was analyzed by echocardiography. Results：Exercise training upregulated BDNF mRMA（P < 0.01）and protein（P < 0.01）expression，as well as phosphorylated TrkB levels（P < 0.01）in post-MI rat hearts. Exercise training induced elevation of serum BDNF in post-MI rats，which were related to angiogenesis（r=0.501，P=0.007）and cardiac function（r=0.611，P=0.002）. The exercise-related angiogenic response（P < 0.01）and functional improvement（P < 0.05）was attenuated by inhibition of BDNF receptor. Conclusion：Exercise convey its pro-angiogenic effects in ischemic myocardial tissue through BDNF.