摘要AIM: To investigate the ultra-structural changes and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in the pancreas of rats with endotoxic shock and to detect their possible relationship.METHODS: A total of 33 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group (given normal saline), small dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (given LPS 5 mg/kg) and large dose LPS group (given LPS 10mg/kg). Pancreas was explanted to detect the ultrastructural changes by TEM and the HSP70 expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.RESULTS: Rats given small doses of LPS showed swelling and loss of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells and increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. Rats given large doses of LPS showed swelling, vacuolization, and obvious myeloid changes of mitochondrial cristae of acinar cells, increased number of autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of acinar cells. HSP70 expression was increased compared to the control group (P＜0.05).CONCLUSION: Small doses of LPS may induce stronger expression of HSP70, promote autophagocytosis and ameliorate ultra-structural injuries.