The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 and oxidative stress in acute hepatic injury

Objectives:To study the expression of cyclooxygenase 2(COX 2) in acute hepatic injury and the relationship between COX 2 and oxidative stress. Methods:Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups: normal group: 10 rats, control group: 10 rats ip injection of 1 ml/g of CCl 4, model groups: 10 rats ip injection of 1 ml/kg of CCl 4 and after two hours ig of 80 mg/kg of Celecoxib. Results:Levels of serum ALT,AST and LPS in control rats were higher than normal rats. The indices were different significantly between control rats and model rats( P 0.05). The levels of liver homogenate NO and MDA in control rats and model rats were higher than normal rats, the difference between control rats and model rats were significant statistically ( P 0.05). H E stain showed hepatic cell swelling, vacuolation and steatosis in control and model rats. Immunohistochemical stain showed that the expression of COX 2 in model rats were higher than control rats. Conclusions:After acute hepatic injury, endotoxin induced the expression of COX 2 oxidative stress, which enhanced hepatic injury. The increased expression of COX 2 and NO might act as a protective role.