AIM:To assess the role of oxygen-derived free radicals andcytokines in the pathogenesis of taurocholic acid-inducedacute pancreatitis,and to evaluate the preventive effectsof octreotide towards the development of acutepancreatitis.METHODS:Acute pancreatitis was induced in male New Zealandwhite rabbits by retrograde injection of 0.8 mL/kg·b.m,of50 g/L sodium taurocholate (NaTC) in the pancreatic duct.Sham-operated animals served as control.Octreotide i mg/kg·b.m.was administered subcutaneously before the induction ofpancreatitis.Blood was taken from the jugular vein beforeand at 1,3,6,12 and 24 h after pancreatitis induction.Serum activities of amylase,IL-6 and TNF-α and levels ofmalonyl dialdehyde (MDA),glutathione (GSH),glutathioneperoxidase (GPx),catalase and superoxide dismutase (Mn-,Cu-,and Zn-SOD) in pancreatic tissue were measured.RESULTS:Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels increasedsignificantly 3 h after the onset of pancreatitis,and thenreturned to control level.The tissue concentration of MDAwas significantly elevated at 24 h,while the GSH level andGP-x,catalase,Mn-SOD,Cu-,Zn-SOD activities were allsignificantly decreased in animals with pancreatitis ascompared to the control.Octreotide pretreatmnent significantlyreversed the changes in cytokines and reactive oxygenmetabolites.Octreotide treatment did not alter the serumamylase activity and did not have any beneficial effects onthe development of histopathological changes.CONCLUSION:Oxygen-derived free radicals andproinflammatory cytokines are generated at an early stageof NaTc-induced acute pancreatitis in rabbits.Prophylacticoctreotide treatment can prevent release of cytokines andgeneration of reactive oxygen metabolites,but does nothave any beneficial effects on the development of necrotizingpancreatitis. AIM: To assess the role of oxygen-derived free radicals andcytokines in the pathogenesis of taurocholic acid-inducedacute pancreatitis, and to evaluate the preventive effects of octreotide towards the development of acute pancreatic disease. METHODS: Acute pancreatitis was induced in male New Zealand white rabbits by retrograde injection of 0.8 mL / kg · bm, of 50 g / L sodium taurocholate (NaTC) in the pancreatic duct. Sham-operated animals served as control. Actreotide i mg / kg · bmwas administered subcutaneously before the induction of pancreatitis. Blood was taken from the The activities of amylase, IL-6 and TNF-α and levels of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathioneperoxidase (GPx), catalase and RESULTS: The superoxide dismutase (Mn-, Cu-, and Zn-SOD) in pancreatic tissue were measured .RESULTS: Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels increased more than 3 h after the onset of pancreatitis, and then returned to control level. ration of MDAwas significantly elevated at 24 h, while the GSH level and GP-x, catalase, Mn-SOD, Cu-, Zn-SOD activities were all changed significantly in animals with pancreatitis ascompared to the control. Octreotide pretreatmnent significantly altered the changes in cytokines and reactive oxygen metabolites. Octreotide treatment did not alter the serumamylase activity and did not have any beneficial effects on the development of histopathological changes. CONCLUSION: Oxygen-derived free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines are produced at an early stage of NaTc-induced acute pancreatitis in rabbits. Prophylactic octreotide treatment can prevent release of cytokines andgeneration of reactive oxygen metabolites, but does nothave any beneficial effects on the development of necrotizingpancreatitis.