Effect of cyclooxygenase-2 and its inhibitor on experimental hepatic fibrosis in rat

【Objective】To assess the effect of cyclooxygenase-2 and its selective inhibitor,Celecoxib on experi-mental hepatic fibrosis in rat.【Methods】Fifty male Wistar rats were assigned three groups randomly.Normal rat group(10),model rat group(10),experiment rat group(30).Model rats received carbon tetrachloride(CCL4)three times a week.Experiment rats received CCL4 and different concentration Celecoxib.After 8 weeks,all rats alanine transaminase(ALT)and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase(AST),hydroxyproline were measured at the time of sacri-fice.Expression of COX-2 and alpha smooth muscle actin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.【Results】The levels of serum ALT,AST and hydroxyproline in rats of model group were higher than those in rats of normal group(P 0.05).The levels of serum ALT,AST and hydroxyproline in rats in experiment group were higher than those in rats of model group(P 0.05).The expression of α-SMA was a small quantity in normal hepatic tissue.There was no expression of COX-2 in normal hepatic tissue.The expression of α-SMA and COX-2 in rats of model group were higher than those in rats of normal group(P 0.05).The expression of α-SMA and COX-2 in rats in experiment group were higher than those in rats of model group(P 0.05).【Conclusion】The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 might play a protective role in hepatic fibrosis.Using its inhibitor might potentiate the hepatic fibrosis.