AIM: To investigate the influence of exogenous somatostatin (stilamin) on pancreatic blood flow in normal rats or rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP).METHODS: Pancreatic blood flow (PBF) was detected with computerized tissue blood flowmeter and rats with ANP were triggered with sodium taurocholate. Metabolites of eicosanoids in plasma were determined with radioimmunoassay. Other laboratory tests including histopathologic observation under optical or electron microscope were used. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in PBF in normal rats after stilamin administration in comparison with that before use of the drug. There was significant decrease in PBF after onset of ANP, but, compared with that in ANP group, significant increase was shown in SS(stilamin)+ANP group. Plasma thromboxin-B 2(TXB 2) in ANP group at 6 hours after ANP was significantly higher, with increase of 4.5 times, than that in Sham(sham operated) group while TXB 2, detected each time during the course of ANP, significantly decreased in SS+ANP group. 6-Keto-prostagland in F 1? (6-Keto-PGF 1? ) at 6 h after ANP was significantly higher, and the ratio of TXB 2/6-Keto-PGF 1? , significantly lower in SS+ANP group than that in ANP group. Lessened necrosis of acinar cells, along with much fewer microthrombi in microvessels in SS+ANP group, was shown by pathologic scoring or electron microscope than that in ANP group.CONCLUSION: Administration of exogenous somatostatin leads to the decrease in PBF in physiological setting but it attenuates pancreatic ischemia in SS+ANP group, which may be attributed to correction of abnormal metabolism of eicosanoids, improvement of pancreatic microcirculation and cytoprotection of acinar cells as well.