title: Effect of a selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 on the small bowel of rats.
abstract: The pathogenesis of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) enteropathy is a complex process involving the uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX). Rofecoxib, a selective inhibitor of COX-2, has shown less gastric damage, but the same beneficial effect is not clear in the case of the small bowel. Fifty-seven male Wistar rats (250-350 g) were divided into three groups (N=19 each) to evaluate the effect of this NSAID on the rat intestine. The groups received 2.5 mg/kg rofecoxib, 7.5 mg/kg indomethacin or water with 5% DMSO (control) given as a single dose by gavage 24 h before the beginning of the experiment. A macroscopic score was used to quantify intestinal lesions and intestinal permeability was measured using [51Cr]-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ([51Cr]-EDTA). The extent of intestinal lesion, indicated by a macroscopic score, was significantly lower when rofecoxib was administered compared to indomethacin (rofecoxib=0.0 vs indomethacin=63.6 +/- 25.9; P<0.05) and did not differ from control. The intestinal permeability to [51Cr]-EDTA was significantly increased after indomethacin (control=1.82 +/- 0.4 vs indomethacin=9.12 +/- 0.8%; P<0.0001), but not after rofecoxib, whose effect did not differ significantly from control (control=1.82 +/- 0.4 vs rofecoxib=2.17 +/- 0.4%; ns), but was significantly different from indomethacin (indomethacin=9.12 +/- 0.8 vs rofecoxib=2.17 +/- 0.4%; P<0.001). In conclusion, the present data show that rofecoxib is safer than indomethacin in rats because it does not induce macroscopic intestinal damage or increased intestinal permeability.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Investigação Médica, Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. azaleite@uol.com.br
authors.forename: A Z A
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sipahi
authors.forename: A O M C
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Damião
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Garcez
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Buchpiguel
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Lopasso
authors.forename: M L L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lordello
authors.forename: C L O
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Agostinho
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Laudanna
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007783:Lactones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D007213:Indomethacin