Objective; To test the effect of fosinopril and valsartan on cardiomyocte apoptosis and expression of Bcl - 2 and Bax in myocardium of ischemia - reperfusion (I - R) rat model. Methods; SD rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: Sham - operation group. Ischemia - reperfusion group . Fosinopril group and Valsartan group. The TdT - mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect apoptotic myocytes in different groups. Bcl - 2 and Bax expression in myocardium were analyzed by immunohistochemical technique. Results ; The number of apoptotic cardiomytocytes in Ischemia 30min - reperfusion 48 hours group were significantly more (247. 2±25.9)

than those in Ischemia 30min - reperfusion 4 hours group (P < 0.01). The number of apoptotic myocytes in Fosinopril group and Valsartan group was less than that of Ischemia - reperfusion group (P < 0. 05). The expression of Bax in myocardium was significantly decreased in Fosinopril group and Valsartan group. Conclusion; Ischemia - reperfusion injury could induce myocardial apoptosis

in association with increased expression of Bcl -2 and Bax. Valsartan could decrease cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the rat hearts after Ischemia - reperfusion

and this decrease was possibly mediated by downregulation of Bax gene expression.