Objective To determine the effect of miR-138 on SD rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury its mechanism.Methods 60 adult SD rats were randomly divided into Sham group,renal ischemia-reperfusion (RIRI) group,RIRI + vector group,RIRI + miR-138 group,RIRI + miR-138 shRNA group,and then we established renal reperfusion injury model by occlusion bilateral renal pedicle.Creatinine,blood urea nitrogen in serum are tested to compare differences in renal function in each group,and TUNEL staining was taked to detect apoptosis,real time PCR were taked to test the exression of p53 and it's pathway.Results When compared with the sham group,expression of kidney function BUN/Crin serum,percentage of apoptoiscells of reperfusion injury group wrer all increased,and the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Upregulate miR-138 increased these indexes,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0.05),and down regulate miR-138 would protect the injure of renal ischemia-reperfusion.Further studies showed that miR-138 may play the role by inhibiting the p53 signaling pathway.Conclusion MiR-138 has a significant aggravating effect on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury,and the mechanism may be related to p53 signaling pathway.