Objective To investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the renal function in acute biliary infection. Methods 35 Wistar rats were divided randomly into acute biliary infection group (AC), group of AC with Larginine(L), group of L-NAME(N), group of simple biliary obstruction(O) and a sham-operated group(SO), and serum NO、 BUN、 Cr and NOS were determined and pathologic changes of liver and kidney were observed. Results NO and NOS were significantly higher in L group than in any other groups (P＜0.05), BUN and Cr were significantly lower than in AC and N groups (P＜0.05), but showed no significance compared with O group (P＞0.05). The pathology of kidney in L group showed a less severe change than that in AC group; NO and NOS in N group were lower than those in other groups. BUN and Cr were higher than those in other groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion NO has a protection for renal function in acute biliary infected rats the mechanism being related to its dilative effect on renal vessels and increased renal blood perfusion.