Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylonitrile) [P(NIPAAm-co-AN)] copolymers with AN content of up to 10 mol% and their hydrogels were synthesized using water as a reaction medium, and the effects of AN unit incorporation on the critical gel transition temperature(CGTT) and swelling behaviors of the hydrogels were investigated. The CGTT of the copolymer hydrogel was $30{sim}32;^{circ}C$, decreasing with increasing AN content. Below CGTT, swelling rate and equilibrium swelling ratio of the copolymer hydrogel decreased with increasing AN content. On the other hand, it exhibited faster deswelling and lower equilibrium deswelling ratio with increasing AN content above CGTT.