Effects of celecoxib on expression of caspase-9 and motor function after craniocerebral injury / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To investigate the effects of celecoxib on cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and caspase-9 expression and motor function after traumatic brain injury in rats.Methods The rats were divided into control group, sham operation group, trauma group and treatment group.The model of closed craniocerebral trauma was established by Marmarou method, the gene expression of COX-2 and Caspase-9 was detected by real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR), the protein expressions of COX-2 and Caspase-9 were detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the motor function of the rats was evaluated by the neurological impairment score(NSS).Results The gene and protein expression of COX-2 and Caspase-9 in traumatic group was significantly higher than in other three groups (P<0.05), the expression of COX-2 and Caspase-9 in treatment group was significantly lower than in traumatic group(P<0.05), but still higher than the sham operation group and the normal group(P<0.05);compared with the trauma group, the motor function of the treatment group could be effectively improve (P<0.05), but compared with the control group and the sham operation group, the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Celecoxib can reduce the inflammatory response after craniocerebral injury by specific inhibition of COX-2, and further reduce the expression of Caspase-9, thereby reducing the apoptosis of nerve cells, and improving motor function after traumatic brain injury in rats.