[The impact of selective cycloxygenase-2 inhibitor celexibo on the formation of cholesterol gallstone].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of specific cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor celexibo on the formation of gallstone in rabbits by comparing both the mucosa damage and the risk of gallstone formation.


METHODS
30 rabbits were equally divided into three groups: gallstone group (induced by high cholesterol diet HCD), celexibo group (treated with celexibo 10 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) in addition to HCD) and control group (fed with formal diet). After 7 weeks, bile was obtained for observing gallstone formation, and the morphologic changes of the mucosa were assessed under microscopy. The level of COX-2 in gallbladder mucosa in each group was estimated with immunohistochemical assay.


RESULTS
Celexibo group had lower risk to get gallstones than gallstone group (2/10 vs 9/10, P < 0.05). The degree of mucosa inflammation and level of COX-2 expression were significantly higher in gallstone group than in the other two groups (0.055 +/- 0.006 vs 0.017 +/- 0.003, P < 0.001; 0.055 +/- 0.006 vs 0.169 +/- 0.001, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Specific COX-2 inhibitor celexibo can decrease the risk of gallstone formation. COX-2 is highly expressed in gallbladder mucosa of gallstone, which suggests that there is certain inflammatory mechanism in the cholesterol gallstone formation.
Chen
Xiao-wei
XW
Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China.
Cai
Jian-ting
JT
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits
D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D002784:Cholesterol; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases