The effect of celecoxib on blood pressure and plasma oxidant/antioxidant status in co-administration with glucocorticoid in rat

There is limited information about the concomitant uses of selective COX-2 inhibitors with corticosteroids or with antihypertensive medications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of celecoxib on blood pressure and plasma oxidant/antioxidant status in glucocorticoid-induced hypertension and in co-administration with captopril. Male Wistar rats received dexamethasone (30 mu g/kg/day, s.c.) for 14 days. The tested groups received dexamethasone and orally treated with celecoxib (10, 25 or 50 mg/kg) or captopril (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg) or celecoxib (50 mg/kg) + captopril from day 8 to 14. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured using tail-cuff method. Hydroperoxides concentration and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) value were determined in plasma samples. Dexamethasone significantly increased BP and plasma hydroperoxides level and decreased body weights. High dose of celecoxib resulted in a small but significant increase in SBP, DBP and MAP in normotensive rats however it did not alter BP markers in dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats. Celecoxib reduced the hypotensive effect of all doses of captopril in dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats however the SBP and MAP was preserved near to normal at low and middle doses of captopril but DBP was more than normal at low dose of captopril. Heart rate was not significantly altered by different treatments. High dose of celecoxib also increased plasma hydroperoxides concentration without effect on FRAP level. In conclusion, celecoxib did not change blood pressure in glucocorticoid-induced hypertensive rats but may blunt the hypotensive effect of low dose of captopril. Further studies are needed for detailed information addressing the effects of COX-2 inhibitors on blood pressure in concomitant uses with corticosteroids.