Background-Previously, we have shown that magnesium supplemented potassium (DSA) cardioplegia and DSA containing diazoxide (DSA+DZX) significantly decrease apoptosis after ischemia. The mechanism for this enhanced cardioprotection was unknown, but we believed that alterations in signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) may play a role. To investigate this hypothesis, we examined the effects of DSA and DSA+DZX cardioplegia on STAT1/3 phosphorylation and DNA binding in the in situ blood perfused pig heart model.