Background It is accepted that inflammatory cytokines play a key role in the development of acute pancreatitis, so blocking the initiation of inflammatory reactions may alleviate pathological changes of acute pancreatitis. We studied the regulatory effect of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on apoptosis and oncosis of pancreatic acinar cells in vitro and in vivo and its therapeutic effect on acute pancreatitis.Methods Pancreatic acinar cells were isolated by collagenase digestion method. Apoptosis and oncosis of isolated pancreatic acinar cells were detected with Hoechst 33258+PI or Annexin V+PI double fluorescent staining. Amylase and lactate dehydrogenase release were measured. Acute pancreatitis was induced in Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injections of caerulein, and apoptosis was detected with terminal dUTP nick-end labeling method. Tumor necorsis factor α (TNF-α) mRNA, myeloperoxidase, nuclear factor-κB and histological grading of pancreatic damage were measured.Results There was an increased apoptosis but a decreased oncosis of pancreatic acinar cell after the treatment with As2O3. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase and amylase release were markedly decreased in As2O3 treated group.Myeloperoxidase content, TNF-α mRNA level, nuclear factor-κB activation and pathological score in As2O3 treated group were significantly lower than in the untreated group.Conclusions As2O3 can induce apoptosis and reduce oncosis of pancreatic acinar cell, thus resulting in reduced release of endocellular enzyme of acinar cells, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines, so that the outcome of alleviated pathological changes was finally achieved.