Abstract： Objective To assess the effects of simultaneous antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia (SARC) on myocardial perfusion and energy metabolism in ischemic myocardium using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods After the hearts were harvested from 18 domestic pigs, left anterior descending artery, aorta, anterior ascending cardiac vein and coronary sinus were cannulated to establish the perfusion routes. 6 hearts were used to assess the effects of SARC on myocardial perfusion. Energy metabolism was observed in the other 12 pig hearts. MRI was used to monitor the distribution of contrast agent (gadoliniumdiethylenetriamine penlaacetic acid, Gd-DTPA) in the myocardium after its injection through arterial and retrograde perfusion routes. The efficacies in sustaining myocardial perfusion and energy metabolism were evaluated by using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) during antegrade cardioplegia (AC) and SARC respectively. Results It was found that injection of Gd-DTPA into the aorta during AC did not result in signal increase in the ischemic myocardium on MRI. During SARC, however, Gd-DTPA was found in the ischemic region as well as in the other regions, no matter if it was given into the aorta or into the coronary sinus. Moreover,31P spectra showed that occlusion of LAD during AC resulted in severe decrease of the levels of phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while the level of inorganic phosphate (Pi) increased in LAD-support myocardium. The abnormal metabolic changes were completely abolished by use of SARC. Conclusion It is concluded that SARC can deliver cardioplegic solution to the myocardium distal to a coronary occlusion and can sustain normal energy metabolism in the jeopardized myocardium.