Objective To investigate the protective effect of local mild hypothermia on the ischemic cerebral tissues. Methods A model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was prepared in Wistar rats to compare the difference of the cerebral infarction volume and neurologic function and the serum concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) between the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group. Results It was found that the cerebral infarction volume was 84.90?11.36 and 128.95?13.42 mm 3 in the local mild hypothermia group and the normal temperature group, the neurologic function score 0.95?0.17 and 1.60?0.24, and the serum concentration of NSE 9.19?3.42 and 13.55?4.07ng/ml,respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that the local mild hypothermia treatment exerted protective effect on the ischemic neurons.