This study was performed to examine 1) Whether hypothermic cardiac arrest produces myocardial HSP72 expression; 2) And if, whether it serves to protect the heart against the subsequent hypothermic arrest. In the present study, neonatal rats were placed in an icebath to induce hypothermia. To determine whether hypothermic cardiac arrest produces myocardial HSP72, experimental animals were subjected to 10-min hypothermic insult before the extraction of the heart. The intervals between the insult and extraction were 1 (1 HR), 4 (4 HR), 8 (8 HR), 24 (24 HR) or 72 (72HR) hours. A minimal amount of HSP72 was detected in control, 1 HR and 72 HR groups. In contrast, 8 HR and 24 HR groups showed a significant level of HSP72 expressions. To assess the cardioprotective effect of HSP72 against hypothermic cardiac arrest, we compared the proportion of recovery from the arrest between control and preconditioned (PREC) animals. Control animals were subjected to 20-min hypothermic insult, while PREC group was preconditioned by 10-min hypothermic insult 8 hours before the 20-min test hypothermic insult. Resuscitation rate from cardiac arrest induced by the 20-min hypothermic insult in PREC group was significantly higher than that in controls. These results suggest that the cardioprotective effect of hypothermic preconditioning is associated with an increase in HSP72 expression.