ABSTRACT
Diabetic nephropathy is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and eventually leads to end-stage renal disease. The present study designed to evaluate the renal effects of selective COX-2 inhibitors on the progression of renal injury in experimental model of diabetic nephropathy. Fifty rats were randomly divided into five equal groups: normal control rats, streptozotocin [STZ]-induced diabetic rats without treatment, STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with celecoxib, STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with enalapril, and STZ-induced diabetic rats treated with combination. Sixteen weeks later, serum glucose, renal functions, and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. Periodic acid-Schiff [PAS] staining was used to examine the morphological changes by light microscopy. STZ-induced diabetes led to development of diabetic nephropathy associated with increased oxidative stress. Both celecoxib and enalapril produced comparable level of renoprotection manifested by significant decrease of serum creatinine and microalbuminuria, which was accompanied by significant decrease of renal malondialdyehyde content, significant increase of renal reduced glutathione content and superoxide dismutase activity. Glomerulosclerosis seen in untreated-diabetic group were prevented by both celecoxib and enalapril. Combination treatment was superior in renoprotective effects. In conclusion, the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib may prevent or retard the development of diabetic nephropathy