ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect and its possible mechanisms of somatostatin combined with antibiotics on acute cholecystitis through the detection of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in rabbits. MethodsForty-five rabbits were randomly averagely classified into three groups following the establishment of acute cholecystitis model: control group, blank group， and experimental group. The rabbits in control group received cefazolin sodium and metronidazoie by intravenous injection twice a day. The rabbits in experimental group got a hypodermic injection of somatostin (20 μg/kg) twice a day besides antibiotics, while these drugs were replaced by equal volume of normal saline for the rabbits in control group. The concentrations of serum TNFα and CRP were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histomorphological and electron microscopic changes of gallbladder in rabbits were observed on 3 d after administer. ResultsThe concentrations of serum TNF-α of rabbits in experimental group 〔(401.6±48.7) pg/ml〕 were significantly lower than those in control group 〔(767.3±67.4) pg/ml〕 and blank group 〔(806.7±61.2) pg/ml〕, P=0.000 and P=0.000, while the difference between the latter two groups was not significant (P=0.196). The concentrations of serum CRP of rabbits in experimental group 〔(16.2±1.1) mg/L〕 were significantly lower than those in control group 〔(55.4±1.2) mg/L〕 and blank group 〔(72.8±8.9) mg/L〕, P=0.000 and P=0.000, and which was higher in blank group compared with control group (P=0.018). The Histopathological results showed that gallbladder wall emerged mulifocality mucosal fluid necrosis, lamina propia hyperemia, bulk neutrophil infiltration and sequent alleviation of reaction in the rabbits of experimental group when compared with the rabbits of blank group and control group. Electron microscopic results demonstrated that the intercellular junction of gallbladder kept relative integrity and the swelling and vacuolar degeneration of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum obviously relieved. ConclusionsSomatostatin can significantly reduce the concentrations of serum TNF-α and CRP in the model of rabbits acute cholecystitis, which may protect the mucous membrane of gallbladder from the inflammation reaction.