Effects of large dose of dexamethasone on inflammatory mediators and pancreatic cell apoptosis of rats with severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate the influence of high dose of dexamethasone on inflammatory mediators and apoptosis of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: SAP rats were randomly assigned to the model group and treatment group while the normal rats were assigned to the sham operation group. The mortality, ascite volumes, ascites/body weight ratio and pancreas pathological changes of all rats were observed at 3, 6 and 12 h after operation.