Impacts of a Specific Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor on Pressure Overload-Induced Myocardial Hypertrophy in Rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the impacts of the specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib on cardiac structures, functions, and inflammatory factors during the process of pressure overload-induced myocardial hypertrophy.

METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the sham operation group, the surgery group, and the celecoxib group. The model was established according to the abdominal aortic coarctation method.

RESULTS: At 16 weeks, rats in the celecoxib group were fed a celecoxib-mixed diet (10 mg/kg) for 8 consecutive weeks. At week 24 after model establishment, the cardiac structures and functions were observed; changes in the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), C-reactive protein (CRP), and uric acid (UA) were detected; and the contents of Smad1/2/3 proteins (Smad1, Smad2, and Smad3)  were determined. Left ventricular mass index, the heart weight/body weight ratio, and TNF-α, TGF-β, PGE2, CRP, and UA levels of the celecoxib group were all significantly decreased relative to those of the surgery group (P < .05); moreover, the cardiac functions were significantly improved compared to those of the surgery group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: These results show that inflammatory factors are involved in the myocardial hypertrophy process and that celecoxib may reverse myocardial hypertrophy through a variety of pathways.