The mechanisms underlying propofol's cardioprotective role remain elusive. Caveolin-3 (Cav-3) has been shown to mediate both opioids-and volatile anesthetics-induced cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We hypothesize that the cardioprotective role of propofol is mediated through Cav3 and its regulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3 beta signal pathway. Rats or H9c2 cardiomyocytes were exposed to propofol before I/R or simulated ischemia/reperfusion (SI/R). Propofol pretreatment significantly decreased left ventricle infarct size in vivo (P, 0.05) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labeling-positive cells both in vivo and in vitro (P < 0.05), along with an increased Cav-3 protein expression and binding of Cav-3 to p85-subunit of PI3K. No significant change in Cav-3 mRNA expression in left ventricle tissues was found in either I/R or propofol-treated groups. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin or Cav-3 siRNA was used to knockdown Cav-3 expression in vitro, which virtually abolished propofol-induced cardiac protection and PI3K/Akt/ GSK3 beta pathway activation. In contrast, MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, could significantly restore SI/R-induced Cav-3 decrease. It is concluded that Cav-3 mediates propofol-induced cardioprotection against I/R injury and the relevant PI3K/Akt/GSK3 beta activation. The downregulation of Cav-3 under SI/R may be caused by proteasome degradation, and this process can be prevented by propofol.