Objective To explore the effects of beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP17) peptide on the changes in the expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(PKB) and phosphorylation of cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the neurons of hippocampal gyms in rats after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Method Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely the sham-operated control group, the resuscitation group and resuscitation with APP17 peptide-treated group. The rat model of asphyxial cardiac arrest was made by clamping the endotracheal tube and the standard external cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR) was performed until the restoration of spontaneous circulation ( ROSC) observed.ROSC was defined by the appearance of normal QRS waves of electrocardiogram and mean artery pressure ( MAP)≥60 mmHg for more than 10 minutes. Rats of resuscitation group and control group received intravenous 0.9%NaCl, and the rats of the APP17 peptide group were treated with APP17 peptide(10μg·300 g~(-1), i. v.) after ROSC. Rats were sacrificed by decapitation after reperfusion 2 hours and then the cerebral hippocampal gyrus was immediately separated to detect PI3K, PKB and p-CREB by immunohistochemistry ( IHC) and Western-blot analysis. Statistical comparisons were made by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) . Results IHC showed that there was no significant difference in PDK positive cells between resuscitation group and control group (2.75 ±1.80 vs. 2.53 ± 1.53, P > 0.05) . The PDK obviously more increased in the APP17 peptide group than in resuscitation group(5.85 ± 2.83 vs. 2.75 ± 1.80, P < 0.01) .The counts of PKB and p-CREB positive cells were obviously lower in resuscitation group than those in control group (2.45 ± 1.36 vs. 5.22 ± 2.50, P < 0.05);(2.41 ± 1.11 vs. 8.31 ±3.02, P < 0.01 ). The PKB and p-CREB positive cells were significantly higher in the APP17 peptide group than in resuscitation group (9.66±4.32 vs. 2.45 ±1.36, P < 0.01);(14.18 ± 3.96 vs.2.41 ± 1.11, P <0.01). The PKB and p-CREB protein levels in resuscitation group were lower than those in the control group. Conclusions The expressions of PKB and p-CREB in neurons of hippocampus gyrus 2 hours ROSC, and APP17 peptide could restorer the expression of PDK, PKB and p- CREB and thereby protect the neurons of hippocampus gyrus from the injury of CPR.