AIM: To explore the changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) regulated by NF-κB at various times and to evaluate the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rat colitis.METHODS: TNBS of 0.6 mL was mixed with ethanol of 0.3 mL solution and instilled into the lumen of the rat colon. The rat models were divided into 6 groups, which were killed at 24 h, 3, 7, 14, and 21 d after enema. Colonic inflammation and damage were assessed by macroscopical and histological criteria. Activity of NF-κB DNA-binding was analyzed by electrophoresis mobility shift assays (EMSA).Expression of ICAM-1 was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry (IH). Then various doses of PDTC were injected into rat abdomen 30 min before enema with TNBS/ethanol as pretreatment. The rats were killed 4 h after enema and the colonic inflammation,myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA)level, and DNA-binding activity of NF-κB were assessed.Finally, PDTC was injected intraperitoneally after colitis was induced. Changes of morphology were assayed.RESULTS: During the first week, hyperemia, hemorrhage,edema and ulceration of the colonic mucosa appeared with predominant infiltration of leukocytes. Neutrophils,macrophages, lymphocytes infiltrated in mucosa and submucosa 14 d later. Fibroblasts and granuloma-like structures were also obviously seen. The binding activity of NF-κB began to increase at 24 h time point and reached a peak at 14 d, then decreased but still was higher than control group at 21 d (P＜0.01). Levels of tCAM-1 mRNA and protein significantly elevated at 24 h and the peak was at 21 d. Pretreatment with PDTC could attenuate the development of inflammation but not by reducing NF-κB activity. This attenuation of inflammation had a positive relationship with the dose of PDTC. PDTC at the dose of 100 mg/kg had no therapeutic effect after colitis was induced.CONCLUSION: NF-κB activation is an important event that may be involved in acute and chronic inflammation development and may contribute to self-protection against early inflammation damage. NF-κB also regulates ICAM-1expression during colonic inflammation. Pretreatment of PDTC may attenuate the inflammation development. But PDTC has no therapeutic effect after the colitis is induced.