Western blotting assay demonstrated that HIIT for 8 weeks accounted for cardioprotection in coping with MI by targeting necroptosis. a Protein level of RIP1 was significantly increased in MI-CTL relative to sham, HIIT (*** P < 0.001) and baseline cohorts (**P < 0.01). HIIT for 8 weeks markedly decreased Protein level of RIP1, indicating inhibition of necroptosis by HIIT after MI (### P < 0.001). b The expression of RIP3 protein was remarkably enhanced in Baseline and MI-CTL cohorts (** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 compared with HIIT, *P < 0.05 compared with HIIT). HIIT for 8 weeks significantly blunted the expression of RIP3 protein relative to MI-CTL (## P < 0.01). c Remarkable expression of MLKL protein was found in post-MI rats (*** P < 0.001 relative to sham and HIIT cohorts; ** P < 0.01 compared with baseline). HIIT for 8 weeks markedly decreased protein level of MLKL in post-MI rats, again confirming suppression of necroptosis following HIIT treatment (# P < 0.05 compared with MI-CTL cohort)