Transcriptional coactivator PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and corepressor receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) are opposing-functional regulators in maintaining energy balance of most metabolic tissues and cells. However, the relative contributions of both factors to energy metabolism in cardiomyocytes remain largely unknown. Herein, we reported that the relative protein levels of RIP140/PGC-1α were up-regulated in the failing hearts after chronic myocardial infarction (MI), and correlated negatively with the energy state index phosphocreatine (PCr)/ATP ratios. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that mRNA expressions of estrogen related receptor α (ERRα), peroxisome proliferate activated receptor α and β (PPARα, PPARβ), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and their target genes were repressed by RIP140 and induced by PGC-1α in a dose dependent manner in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. We also observed that overexpression of RIP140 through adenovirus delivery can abrogate the PGC-1α-mediated induction of mitochondrial membrane potential elevation and mitochondrial biogenesis, and activate both autophagy and apoptosis pathways. We conclude that RIP140 and PGC-1α exert antagonistic role in regulating cardiac energy state and mitochondrial biogenesis.