Objective:To investigate the role of PTEN induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)/parkin-mediated mitophagy in diaphragm dysfunction caused by mechanical ventilation(MV). Methods:Twenty-four adult male SD rats were randomly divided into the Control group(n=6),the MV-6h group(n=6),the MV-12h group(n=6),and the MV-24h group(n=6). Rats in the Control group were without any treatment,in the MV-6h group were mechanically ventilated for 6 h,in the MV-12h group were mechanically ventilated for 12 h and in the MV-24h group were mechanically ventilated for 24 h. Using RM6240 multi-channel physiology signal collection and pro-cessing system was used to detect diaphragm compound action potential(CMAP),hematoxylin and eosin staining method was used to measure the cross-sectional area(CSA) of the diaphragm,and Western blot was used to detect levels of muscle atrophy F-box(MAFbx),muscle specific ring finger 1(MURF1),mitochondrial fission protein(drp1),mitofusin-2(mfn2),autophagy-related protein of PINK1,parkin and P62,and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3). Results:The amplitude of CMAP in the MV-12h group[(3.15±0.52) mV] and the MV-24 group[(2.44±1.26) mV] was significantly decreased(P=0.000). The duration of CMAP in the MV-24h group[(7.05±0.61) ms] was significantly longer(P=0.000). Compared with the Control group[(5 308.67±228.18) μm2],the CSA of diaphragm in the MV-6h group[(3 378.33±393.40) μm2],the MV-12h group[(2 969.67±35.16) μm2] and the MV-24h group[(2 115.33±130.23) μm2] was significantly de-creased(P=0.000). Compared with the Control group,the level of MAFbx in the MV-12h group[(2.59±0.19)] and the MV-24h group[(4.11±0.19)] was significantly increased(P=0.000),the level of MURF1 in the MV-12h group[(1.96±0.26)] and MV-24h group[(2.88±0.29)] was significantly increased(P=0.000). drp1 in the MV-24h group(5.55±0.36)(P=0.000) was significantly increased and mfn2 in the MV-12h group(0.47±0.13) and the MV-24h group(0.35±0.10) was significantly decreased(P=0.002). Compared with the Control group,PINK1 in the MV-12h group(2.53±0.25) and the MV-24h group(4.78±0.31) was significantly increased(P=0.000),parkin in MV-24h group(3.73±0.16) was significantly increased(P=0.000),P62 in MV-12h group(2.28±0.06) and MV-24h group(3.69±0.17) was significantly increased(P=0.000),and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio in MV-24h group(1.57±1.32) was increased significantly(P=0.002). Conclusion:MV can change the PINK1/parkin-mediated mitophagy,leading to diaphragm dysfunction and atrophy.