Objective To investigate the pathogenesis of acute lung injury in rats induced by intra-peritoneally injection of perforative peritonitis ascitic fluids（PPAF） and the role of L-arginine （L-Arg） in acute lung injury in this model. Methods Perforative peritonitis （PP） models were established in 60 rats and PPAF were collected. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided equally into NS group，PPAF group, and L-Arg group. Rats were randomly subjected to death at 7 h and 12 h. Peripheral blood WBC were counted，levels of NO and malondialdehyde （MDA） in serum were examined. Lung injury score and wet/dry ratio were evaluated， and level of myeloperoxidase （MPO） in lung tissues and lung cell apoptosis were tested. Results WBC count of peripheral blood, levels of NO and MDA in serum， level of MPO in lung tissue, lung injury score， wet/dry ratio， and lung cell apoptosis rate in PPAF group were significantly higher than that in NS group at each time point（P＜0.01）. Level of NO in serum in L-Arg group was higher than that in PPAF group （P＜0.01）， but lower level of MDA in serum， lower level of MPO in lung tissue and lung injury score，lower wet/dry ratio， and lung cell apoptosis rate were observed in L-Arg group（P＜0.05）. In PPAF group and L-Arg group， level of NO in serum， wet/dry ratio, and lung cell apoptosis rate were higher at 12 h than that at 7 h（P=0.000）. Serum NO level was in negative correlation with serum MDA level （r=-0.257，P=0.021）， MPO level in lung tissue（r=-0.444， P=0.011），and lung cell apoptosis（r=-0.351， P =0.010） in PPAF group and L-Arg group， but serum MDA level was in positive correlation with cell apoptosis（r=0.969， P＜0.001） in each group. Conclusions Acute lung injury rats model can be established by intra-peritoneally injection of PPAF. Enhanced oxidizing reaction and cell apoptosis take part in the occurrence of acute lung injury. L-Arg plays a protective role in acute lung injury.