Objective To evaluate the role of adiponectin (ADP) and adiponectin receptor-1(ADPR1) in limb ischemic precondi-tioning(LIPC) against apoptosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury(MIRI) .Methods SD rats were divided into 3 groups (n=10 ,4 rats of every group were prepared for detecting apoptosis ) .Group sham (group in sham operated) were processed identi-cally except the left coronary artery was not be ligated ;group MIRI (group in ischemia reperfusion) were subjected to occlusion of the left coronary artery anterior descending (LAD) followed by reperfusion ,occlusion for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min;group LIPC (group in limb ischemic preconditioning) were subjected to ischemia and reperfusion on the left hind limb for 5 min in turn for 3 d .LAD were performed ischemia for 30 min and reperfusion for 120 min at the 4th day .The expression of the level of myocardial ADP and ADPR1 mRNA of group sham ,group MIRI and group LIPC were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) .The apoptosis index of every group were determined by mothod of terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase medi-ated nick end labeling(TUNEL)respectively .Results Compared with group sham ,the expression of ADP and ADPR1 mRNA in group MIRI lessened apparently (P<0 .05);compared with group MIRI ,the expression of ADP and ADPR1 mRNA in group LIPC increased statistically significant(P<0 .05);compared with group sham ,the apoptosis index(AI) of myocardial cells in group MIRI increased apparently(P<0 .05);compared with group MIRI ,the AI of myocardial cells in group LIPC decreased significantly (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Limb ischemic preconditioning ;decreased apoptosis after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via activating ADP signaling pathways ,which played a protective role in myocardial tissue .