AIM: To observe the effect of ischemic preconditioning on contents of cytochrome C and mitochondrial calcium in rats after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion. METHODS: Focal cerebral ischemic model was made by occlusion of right middle artery in Wistar rats (ischemia for 2 h and reperfusion for 4 h). Rats were randomly divided into three groups: ischemia pretreatment, model and sham operation. Rats in ischemic pretreatment group were undergone transient ischemic preconditioning (30 min) and reperfusion (72 h). The contents of cytochrome C were measured according to Zhangjuntian's improved methods. The contents of mitochondrial calcium were detected by flame atom absorption. RESULTS: The contents of mitochondrial cytochrome C and calcium in model group were significantly lower than those in sham operation (P