Objective To investigate the effect of nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) on the expression of parathyroid hormone receptor (PTH1R) and serum calcium level in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) rats. Methods 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (SO), ANP group, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamat (PDTC, an inhibitor of NF-κB) pretreated ANP group (PDTC), with 8 rats each group. ANP model was induced by injecting 5% sodium taurodeoxyebolate into biliary pancreatic duct. Serum calcium was measured and the expression of NF-κB was determined by western blot and the expression of PTH1R was examined by RT-PCR plus western blot 6 h after ANP induction. Results The NF-κB proteins of bone and kidney tissues in ANP group were 1.53±0.08 and 0.47±0.19, respectively; in PDTC group they were 0.61±0.13 and 0.36±0.06 with significant difference (P<0.05). The PTH1R mRNA expressions of bone and kidney in ANP group were 0.27±0.08 and 0.29±0.06, respectively; the PTH1R proteins expressions were 0.87±0.07 and 0.31±0.09, respectively. The corresponding values in PDTC group were 0.57±0.27 and 0.37±0.11, 1.13±0.17 and 0.68±0.15, respectively, with significant difference (P<0.05). The activity of NF-κB increased in ANP group, the expressions of PTHI R decreased significantly. Compared with ANP group, the activity of NF-κB decreased and the levels of PTH1R and serum calcium increased in PDTC group (P<0.05). Conclusions NF-κB may indirectly down-regulate the expression of PTH1R, which resulting into the hypocalcaemia of ANP. PDTC may alleviate hypocalcaemia in ANP.