Objective To investigate the effects of parecoxib on pneumocyet apoptosis during lung ischemia- reperfusion(I/R)injury in rats. Methods Seventy- two male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups(n= 24 each):group sham operation; group I/R and group parecoxib.lung I/R was induced by occlusion of hilum of the right lung for 60 min followed by 120 min of reperfusion.In P group parecoxib 5 mg/kg was injected iv at 30 min before occlusion of hilum of the right lung.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h of reperfusion and then the lungs were removed for measurement of lung wet/dry weight ratio, and the percentage of neutrophil in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected. The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were measured.The tumor necrosis(TNF-α) and interleukin 1β(IL- 1β) in BALF supernatant were determined by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method. Results Parecoxib significantly attenuated the I/R- induced changes in lung.wet/dry weight ratio(6.34±0.19 vs.5.28± 0.17, P< 0.05), the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)[(9.26±1.85) mol/L vs.(5.45±1.12) mol/ L, P< 0.05], superoxide dismutase(SOD)[(98.1±12.6) U/ml vs.(155.8±14.4) U/ml, P< 0.05]and The rumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)[(425.2±41.8)ng/L vs.(335.4±33.2) ng/L, P<0.05].Interleukin 1β[(178.1±22.6)ng/L vs.(105.4±15.9)ng/L, P<0.05]in group P compared with group I/R.Parecoxib ameliorated I/R- induced lung damage. Conclusion Compared with I/R group, the more attenuation of pulmonary inflammation in Parecoxib group after lung I/R injury is associated with less neutrophil activation and decrease in production of the inflammatory cytokines. Key words: Parecoxib; Reperfusion injur; Lung; Tumor necrosis factor-α; Interleukin-1