The MnO nanoparticles with uniform size (～15 nm) and shape have been synthesized in an inert atmosphers by high-temperature oil phase method. XRD patterns and HRTEM reveals that the as-synthesized MnO nanoparticles are of pure crystalline phase. TEM image shows that the MnO nanoparticles are in spherical shape with a narrow size distribution. Both oil phase and the nanoparticles protected with inert gas in the synthesis process can avoid the oxidization of Mn2+. The obvious exchange bias effect can be observed from the M-H loop of MnO nanoparticles under zero field cooling (ZFC) and FC measurements. Furthermore, the temperature-dependent AC susceptibility of the MnO nanoparticles reveals that the exchange bias effect originates from the antiferromagnetic MnO core and the spin-glass surface, rather than the superparamagnetic phase.