The effect of antioxidants on the myocardial cellular damage which occurs during reoxygenation of hypoxic myocardium was examined in isolated rat hearts. The roles of oxygen free radical and lipid peroxidation in reoxygenation injury of myocardium were also investigated. In Langenorff preparation of isolated rat heart, which was made hypoxic by perfusion with the substrate free, hypoxic cardioplegic solution (37˚C, 90 min), the release of cytosolic enzymes (creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase) and a lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde into the coronary effluent were abruptly increased by reoxygenation. The release of enzymes was closely parallel to that of MDA. These increases of enzymes and lipid peroxidation product were suppressed to various degrees in the presence of scavengers of superoxide anion (superoxide dismutase, 10,000 U), hydrogen peroxide (catalase, 25,000 U) and hydroxyl radical (dimethyl sulfoxide, 10%). A natural antioxidant,α-tocopherol(4.5 uM) and a synthetic one, butylated hydroxytoluene (2 uM) suppressed the release of cytosolic enzymes with the concomittent reduction of lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde release into the coronary effluent. These effects of antioxidants were dose dependent, and were more pronounced when the antioxidants were administered throughout hypoxic and reoxygenation periods than given during reoxygenation period only. These results suggest that cytotoxic oxygen free radicals produced in the myocardium during reoxygenation may be responsible fur the myocardial cellular injury by enhancing the lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes. Furthermore, the antioxidants may exert protective effect against reoxygenation damage of hypoxic myocardium through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation reaction.