Objective To investigate the protective effects of metallothionein （MT） for immature myocardium and myocardial interstitium.Methods Twenty-four rabbits （aged 14-21 days） were divided into 4 groups with random number table, 6 each group. Distilled water was injected intraperitoneally in control group and 3.6% ZnSO4 （1.5 ml/kg） was injected intraperitoneally in group 1, group 2 and group 3. Control group, group 1, group 2 and group 3 isolated working rabbit heart model were used in 24h, 12h, 24h and 48h after intraperitoneally respectively. The MT content, recovery of hemodynamics, biochemistry and myocardial ultrastructure were tested. Results The MT content, hemodynamics recovery, adenosine triphosphate （ATP） content, superoxide dismutase activity, Ca2＋-ATPase activity, synthesizing ATP activity of mitochondria, hydroxyproline in group 2 and group 3 were higher than those in control group and group 1 （P 〈 0. 01）. The myocardial watery content, creatine kinase and dehydrogenase leakage, malondialdehyde content, endothelin, mitochondrial Ca2＋ content in group 2 and group 3 were lower than those in control group and group 1（P〈0.01）. The myocardial ultrastructure injuries were less in group 2 and group 3 than that in control group and group l. Conclusion This study demonstrates that myocardial MT prolonged expression can be induced by ZnSO4 and the ischemia-reperfusion injury of immature myocardium and myocardial interstitium could be reduced by MT.