AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of early administration of exogenous Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP) in rats. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three (n = 10): normal control group (groupⅠ), AEP group (groupⅡ) and AEP with bFGF treatment group (groupⅢ). AEP was induced by subcutaneous injection of cerulein (5.5μg/kg and 7.5μg/kg) at 1 h interval into rats of groupsⅡandⅢ. Three hours after induction of AEP, 100μg/kg bFGF was administrated intraperitoneally for 1h to groupⅢrats. For test of DNA synthesis in acinar cells, 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling solution was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of groupsⅡandⅢ24 h after bFGF treatment. The changes in serum amylase, lipase, pancreatic tissue wet/dry ratio were detected. RESULTS: In bFGF treatment group, there was a significant decrease in the volume of serum amylase, lipase and the pancreatic wet/dry weight ratio(1383.0±94.6 U/L, 194.0±43.6 U/L, 4.32±0.32) compared to AEP group (3464±223.7 U/L, 456±68.7 U/L, 6.89±0.47) (P < 0.01), and no significant difference was found between bFGF treatment and control group (1289±94.0 U/L, 171±23.4 U/L, 4.12±0.26, P > 0.05). The inflammatory changes such as interstitial edema, polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and vacuolization were significantly ameliorated compared to AEP group (P < 0.01). A small number of BrdU-labeled nuclei were observed in acinar cells of AEP rats (1.8±0.3 nuclei/microscopic field, n = 10) while diffuse BrdU-labeled nuclei were found in bFGF-treated rats (18.9±1.4 nuclei/microscopic field, n = 10) {P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical study showed increased DNA synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells. CONCLUSION: Early administration of exogenous bFGF has significant therapeutic effect on cerulein-induced acute edematous pancreatitis in rats. Its mechanism is related to the amelioration of inflammation and facilitation of pancreatic regeneration. AIM: To observe the therapeutic effect of early administration of exogenous Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on acute edematous pancreatitis (AEP) in rats. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three (n = 10) AEP was induced by subcutaneous injection of cerulein (5.5 μg / kg and 7.5 μg / kg) at 1 h interval into rats of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Three hours (A group), AEP group (group Ⅱ) and AEP with bFGF treatment group For induction of DNA synthesis in acinar cells, 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling solution was intraperitoneally injected into the rats of the groups II and III for 24 h after bFGF The changes in serum amylase, lipase, pancreatic tissue wet / dry ratio were detected. RESULTS: In bFGF treatment group, there was a significant decrease in the volume of serum amylase, lipase and the pancreatic wet / dry weight ratio (1383. 0 ± 94.6 U / L, 194.0 ± 43.6 U / L, 4.32 ± 0.32) compared to AEP group (3464 ± 223.7 U / L, 456 ± 68.7 U / L, 6.89 ± 0.47) difference was found between bFGF treatment and control groups (1289 ± 94.0 U / L, 171 ± 23.4 U / L, 4.12 ± 0.26, P> 0.05). The inflammatory changes such as interstitial edema, polymorphonuclear neutrophils A small number of BrdU-labeled nuclei were observed in acinar cells of AEP rats (1.8 ± 0.3 nuclei / microscopic field, n = 10) while diffuse BrdU-labeled nuclei were found in bFGF Immunohistochemical studies showed increased DNA synthesis in pancreatic acinar cells. CONCLUSION: Early administration of exogenous bFGF has significant therapeutic effect on cerulein-induced acute edematous (18.9 ± 1.4 nuclei / microscopic field, n = 10) pancreatitis in rats. Its mechanism is related to the amelioration of inflammation and facilitation of pancreatic re generation.