Abstract: AIM: To investigate whether propofol can alter the pulmonary inflammation induced by severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) in rats during its early period. METHODS: Seventy-two adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups with 8 animals in each group:sham group, SAP 30, 60, 120, 360 min groups and propofol treatment 30, 60, 120, 360 min groups.The preparation of SAP were induced by retrograde injection of 5 % sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct of rats.And the treatment groups received propofol with doses of 150 μg·kg -1·min -1 injected continually immediately in vena caudalis after the preparation of ASP were made. Rats were sacrificed at different time points, and the level of AMY and LIP, the wet dry weight ratio(W D) of pulmonary and pancreatic tissue, the pathological change of pulmonary and pancreatic tissue were examined. RESULTS: Water content and pathological score of pulmonary tissue were decreased significantly within 360 minutes after reproduction of SAP were received propofol(both P <0.01).But no obvious change was observed in water content and pathological score of pancreatitis tissue(both P >0.05). CONCLUSION: propofol can alleviate pulmonary inflammation induced by severe acute pancreatitis in its early period.But propofol can not alleviate the injury of pancreatitis tissue.

Key words: Propofol, severe acute pancreatitis, lung injury, inflammation