Objectives.To study the expression of TNF α mRNA and the effect of somatostatin on the expression of TNF α mRNA in multiorgans of rats with acute hemorrhagic necrotic pancreatitis（AHNP）. Methods.AHNP in the rat was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bile-pancreatic duct. Somatostatin octapeptide （SS-OP） （2μg/kg）was injected into the femoral vein imme- diately in rats of the treatment group after inductive AHNP. Rats of the sham operative group received in- jection of saline. Sixty animals of the AHNP and sham operative groups at the designated time（0. 2h

0. 5 h

2h

4h

8h

after the operation

six animals at each time point）and tweleve animals of treatment group at 4h after the operation were sacrificed for samples of pancreas

liver and lung. The expressions of TNF α mRNA within the pancreas

liver and lung were established by RT－PCR. Results. TNF α mRNA became detectable in the pancreas as early as 0. 2h after inductive AHNP

while it was undetectable in other organs until 0. 5h. Expression of TNF α　mRNA in each tissue increased continuously and reached a peak at 4h

demonstrating a significant difference compared with that at 0. 5h and 8h. Expressions of TNF α mRNA from pancreas

liver and lung were decreased 50-80% in the　treat- ment group

the pancreatic necrosis was also attenuated dramatically. Conclusion. TNF α mRNA was detectable in pancreas

liver and lung tissues at the early stage of AH- NP.SS-OP can significantly inhibit the expression of TNF α mRNA and attenuate the pancreatic necrosis. We feel that this may be an important mechanism of SS-OP in the treatment of AHNP.