Objective To detect the effect of deep hypothermia on the function of mitochondria in hippocampus after global ischemia in rats and to explore the protection mechanism. Methods The animal model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was established in rats that were then randomly divided into three groups,ie,control group,normothermia ischemia group and hypothermia ischemia group,eight rats per group.The mitochondria was extracted from the hippocampus of each rats for observing the mitochondrial respiratory function,the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH),the cytochrome oxidese(CCO),the lnembrane fluidity and the content of intramitochondria free calcium and MDA. Resuits The content of intramitochondria free calcium and MDA in the normothermia ischemia group was increased significantly compared to the control group and that in the hypothermia ischemia group wag decreased significantly compared with the normothermia ischemia group(P<0.05).Respiratory state Ⅲ (R3),respiratory state IV(R4),P/O ratio and oxidative phosphorylation (OPR) in the normothermia ischemia group were decreased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05).R3,R4,P/O ratio and OPR in the hypothermia ischemia group were increased significantly compared with the normothermia ischemia group (P<0.05).Membrane fluidity in the normothermia ischemia group wag decreased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.01),while that in the hypothermia ischemia group was increased significantly compared with the normothermia ischemia group(P<0.05).The activities of SDH and CCO in the normothermia ischemia group were decreased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.01),while those in the hypothermia ischemia group were increased significantly compared with the normothermia ischemia group (P<0.05). Conclusion Profound hypothermia exerts a protective effect on the function of mitochondria in the hippocampus after global ischemia in rats.