Objective To research the influences of massive hemorrhage on spatial learning and memory ability in elderly SD rats .Methods Fifty six aged SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:blank group (B group ,n=8) ,control group (C group , n=24) ,and hemorrhage group (H group ,n=24) .B group was not given any intervention .C group received femoral artery ligation and was sutured under general anesthesia .H group underwent femoral artery puncture phlebotomy ,and then the rats were sutured . Morris water maze was used to test the spatial working ability .Results The escape latency of H group on postoperative day 1 ,3 and 7 were(29 .93 ± 7 .93)s ,(34 .56 ± 6 .74)s and (15 .47 ± 6 .42)s respectively .Compared with B group(12 .56 ± 3 .08)s ,these re‐sults indicated the spatial learning and memory of H group was destroyed after surgery 1 d and 3 d (P<0 .05) ,but no significant difference between H group and B group on postoperative day 7 (P>0 .05) .The escape latent periods to platform observed in C group rats on day1 ,3 and 7 after operation were(15 .74 ± 5 .86)s ,(15 .61 ± 2 .56)s and (13 .56 ± 4 .61)s .Compared with B group [(12 .56 ± 3 .08)s] ,these results indicated that there was no significant difference 7 (P>0 .05) .Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that massive hemorrhage of old rats may destroy the spatial learning and memory .