Objective To investigate the changes and role of elastic fibers during the progression of ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) in rats. Methods Male Sprague Dawley rats were induced by ligating the anterior descending coronary artery and were divided into the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 12th and 21st week groups. Elastic fibers were evaluated in the infarct region using Masson trichrome staining, Uana orcein staining and image analysis. The expressions of TNFα and IL-1β were also detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Elastic fibers could be found within the infarct region in the 2nd week after MI, increased with time and reached the peak during the 8th to 12th weeks, decreased or were absent in the 21st week. The expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β were also detected in the infarct zone and increased with time.Conclusion Elastic fibers were involved in infarct healing and may play an important role in pro