Objective To investigate whether activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway can reduce inflammation in acute pancreatitis(AP)rats.Methods SD rats were grouped into sham surgery group,model group,Gln group,and Gln+LY294002 group(PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors).Intra-abdominal pressure(IAP),ascites volume(AS),serum amylase(AMY),diamine oxidase(DAO),interleukin(IL-1β,IL-6),Tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α)were measured.The pathological change in pancreatic and small intestinal tissues was evaluated by microscopy;The expression of PI3K,Akt and mTOR genes and cytoplasm compact linking protein(ZO-1),compact linking protein(occludin-1),PI3K,Akt and mTOR in ileum of each group were detected.Results Compared with the sham surgery group,the IAP and AS,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,AMY,DAO,and pathological injury scores of pancreas and small intestine in the model group were obviously increased;The expression of PI3K mRNA,Akt mRNA,mTOR mRNA,ZO-1,occludin-1,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR in rat ileum tissue significantly reduced(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the level of IAP and AS,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,AMY,DAO and pathological injury scores of pancreas and small intestine in the Gln group were significantly reduced;The expression of PI3K mRNA,Akt mRNA,mTOR mRNA,ZO-1,occludin-1,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR in rat ileum tissue was significantly increased(P＜0.05);LY294002 could specifically reverse the therapeutic effect of Gln on acute pancreatitis in rats.Conclusions Acti-vation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway may reduce inflammation and improve gastrointestinal function in rats with acute pancreatitis.