Objective To investigate the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in reduction of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by sufentanil preconditioning in rats. Methods Thirty adult male SD rats, weighing 250-330 g, were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n =6 each): sham operation group (group S),I/R group, sufentanil preconditioning group (group SF), sufentanil preconditioning + a specific inhibitor of iNOS S-methyl thiourea (SMT) group (group SF+ SMT) and S-methyl thiourea group (group SMT). In I/R,SF,SF+SMT and SMT groups, myocardial I/R was produced by occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120 min reperfusion. Group SF received 30 min infusion of sufentanil 120 μg/kg via caudal vein 24 h before ischemia. Group SF + SMT received infusion of sufentanil 120 μg/kg via caudal vein 24 h before ischemia and then SMT 10 mg/kg was injected 10 min before ischemia. In group SMT, SMT 10 mg/kg was injected 10min before ischemia. MAP and HR were recorded at 30 min before ischemia, at 30 min of ischemia and at the end of reperfusion. The rate-pressure product (RPP) was calculated. Arterial blood samples were obtained immediately at the end of reperfusion to determine the plasma concentration of NO. Then the animals were sacrificed and myo cardial tissues were obtained to determine the area at risk (AAR), infarct size (IS) and iNOS expression. IS/AAR was calculated. Results Compared with group S, MAP and RPP were significantly decreased, while IS/AAR was significantly increased at 120 min of reperfusion in the other four groups, and MAP and RPP were significantly decreased at 30 min of ischemia in I/R and SMT groups ( P < 0.05). Compared with group I/R, no significant change was found in HR, MAP and RPP in SF, SF + SMT and SMT groups, and in IS/AAR and plasma NO concentrations in SF + SMT and SMT groups ( P > 0.05), but IS/AAR was significantly decreased, and the plasma NO concentration and iNOS expression were significantly increased in group SF ( P < 0. 05). Conclusion iNOS is involved in reduction of myocardial I/R injury by sufentanil preconditioning in rats. Key words: Nitric oxide synthase; Sufentanil; Ischemia preconditioning, myocardial; Myocardial reperfusion injury