Postconditioning (PostC) modifies early post-ischemic pH, redox-environment and activity of enzymes. We hypothesized that early acidosis in PostC may affect superoxide-dismutase (SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities, may reduce 3-nitrotyrosine(3-NT)-and may increase S-nitrosylated (SNO)-protein levels, thus deploying its protective effects. To verify this hypothesis, we studied early (7 th min) and late (120 th min) phases of reperfusion a) endogenous-SOD and -CAT activities, and b) 3-NT-and SNO-protein levels. Isolated rat hearts underwent 30-min ischemia/120-min reperfusion(I/R) or PostC (5 cycles of 10-s I/R at the beginning of 120-min reperfusion) either with or without exogenous-CAT or -SOD infused during the initial 3-min of reperfusion. The effects of early reperfusion with acidic-buffer(AB, pH 6.8) on endogenous antioxidant-enzymes were also tested. Pressure, infarct-size and lactate-dehydrogenase release were also measured. At the 7 th min, PostC induced a significant decrease in SOD-activity with no major change in both Mn-and Cu/Zn-SOD levels, and in CAT-activity and level. PostC also reduced 3-NT and increased SNO levels. Exogenous-SOD, but not -CAT abolished PostCcardioprotection. In late reperfusion(120-min), I/R increased SOD-activity, but decreased CATactivity and Cu/Zn-SOD levels; these effects were reversed by PostC; 3-NT was not affected, but SNO was increased by PostC. AB reproduced PostC effects on antioxidant-enzymes.Conclusions: PostC downregulates endogenous-SOD and preserves -CAT activity, thus increasing SNO and reducing 3-NT levels. These effects are triggered by early post-ischemic acidosis. Yet acidosis-induced SOD-downregulation may limit denitrosylation; thus contributing to PostC-triggering. Hence, exogenous-SOD, but not -CAT, interferes with PostC-triggering.Persistent SOD-downregulation and SNO-increase may contribute to PostC and AB beneficial effects.