Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of which still remains to be explored. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, presenting impairment of secretory function as well as the development of sialoadenitis, which is in common with human Sjögren's syndrome, is considered as one of the appropriate animal models for the study of Sjögren's syndrome. With regard to genetic factors, apoptosis, autoantibodies and cytokines, this paper reviewed the progress in understanding the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome in NOD mice.