RESUMO
This study is designed to demonstrate the effect of a newly introduced selective COX-2 inhibitor, Rofecoxib, on streptozoto-cin-induced diabetes and whether it possesses an anti-oxidant effect or not. The effects of this drug were compared to those of the relatively selective COX-I inhibitor, indomethacin. The animals were divided into four groups, twenty rats each. The first group served as normal control; the second group received streptozotocin alone [45 ing/kg, i.p.] while the remaining two groups were given the same dose of streptozotocin after being treated orally for ten days with either 2.5 nig/kg/day of "Rofecoxib" [in the third group] or 1 mg/kg/day of indomethacin [in the fourth group]. Statistical analysis of the results revealed that animals treated with streptozotocin [STZ] alone exhibited significant plasma insulin reduction [both basal and half an hour after glucose load] while those treated with Rofecoxib showed insignificant reduction in plasma insulin level following STZ, in comparison to the control group. Histopathological changes revealed dial in the STZ group, there was depletion of insulin secretory granules while in the Rofecoxib group, they appear more or less normal. In the STZ group, there was a significant rise in the pancreatic malondialdehyde [MDA] level while in the Rofecoxib group there was insignificant elevation following streptozotocin, in comparison to control group. Treatment of animals with indomethacin [the 4 group] failed to protect them against the destructive effects of streptozotocin. It is concluded that, in contrast to indomethacin, Rofecoxib has beneficial effects in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] both by its modulatory effects on insulin secretion and its antioxidant properties