Effects of Celecoxib (A Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor) on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Rat
Author(s): Maryam Sarbishegi, Ozra Khajavi, Mohammad Rigi Manesh
Abstract
For many years, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) has been common for the treatment of cancer. On the other hand, it has been shown that celecoxib (CLX), a NSAID, can cause apoptosis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). We aimed to describe the effects of CLX on COX-2 expression and cell apoptosis in the prostate tissues of rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Thirty-two Wistar rats were allocated to sham, control, BPH, and BPH+CLX groups. During 4 weeks, 3 mg/kg/day of testosterone propionate (TP) was subcutaneously administered for BPH induction. CLX or distilled water was administrated via oral gavage for 30 days, besides TP injection. After the last day, the animals sacrificed and the prostates removed and weighed. The ventral lobes of the prostates were carefully removed and placed in paraffin blocks, followed by the assessment of mast cell count. Cell apoptosis was assessed by a TUNEL assay, and COX-2 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemistry. Administration of CLX reduced PI and number of mast cells in rats with BPH. Also, treatment with CLX caused apoptosis in prostate cells, compared to the BPH groups. In addition, following treatment with CLX, expression of COX-2 diminished in prostate tissue, compared to the BPH groups. The findings revealed that CLX can be effective in treating rats with BPH. It may be has positive effects in the treatment of BPH patients.
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