Objective To investigate the effect of hypertonic saline in the management of murine experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) Methods SAP was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of 20% L Arginine Rats were divided into four groups ( n =12 in each group ); Healthy controls received intraperitoneal injection of distilled water of 5 ml/kg body weight initially Rats in the four groups were infused at 24 h and 48 h respectively at a dosage of 2 ml/kg body weight of distilled water in both healthy contrals, and SAP controls, of normal saline in group 3 and of hypertonic saline (7 5% sodium chloride) in group 4 Blood samples were collected at 48 h and 72 h after last injection for the measurement of plasma TNF ?、IL 6、 IL 10 All rats were sacrificed for histopathology of pancreatic and lung tissues at 72 h Results Animals that received hypertonic saline showed less pancreatic and lung damage than those resuscitated with normal saline Plasma levels of TNF ?、 IL 6 decreased significantly and plasma levels of IL 10 increased more significiently at 72 h after induction of SAP Conclusion Hypertonic saline resuscitation result in a significant attenuation of the systemic inflammatory response to severe acute pancreatitis