The relationship between hypothermia induction time and survival duration following sepsis was studied on 31 male Sprague-Dawley rats (median weight 311 g, range 260-356 g). After anesthesia and when the target temperature was reached (normothermia: 38°C or mild induced hypothermia: 34°C), sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and perforation. Five experimental groups were used. In groups 1 and 2, temperature of septic rats was maintained throughout the experiment at 38°C (seven rats) or 34°C (six rats), respectively. In groups 3, 4, and 5, septic rats (six per group) were maintained at 38°C for 1, 2, and 3 hours, respectively, and then placed in mild hypothermia (34°C). For each group, the survival duration was determined and blood samples were performed at the tail to measure tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plasma concentration. Whatever the experimental group, a decrease in temperature from 38°C to 34°C significantly increased the survival duration of septic rats compared with those maintained at 38°C throughout the experiment. The delay between the onset of sepsis and induction of hypothermia was also crucial. Thus, hypothermia induced after 1 hour of sepsis at 38°C significantly increased the survival duration of septic rats (12 hours 37 minutes±1 hour 4 minutes; group 3) compared with hypothermia induced after 3 hours of sepsis (8 hours 56 minutes±1 h 20 minutes; group 5). Moreover, except for group 5, survival duration improvement of septic rats observed in hypothermia was related to a lower increase of TNF-α plasma concentration compared with septic rats in normothermia. During sepsis, mild induced hypothermia significantly increased the survival duration of septic rats. The earlier hypothermia was applied, the longer the septic rats survived. According to these results, hypothermia may therefore provide the necessary time to apply a proper treatment.