An Experimental Study Of The Relationship Between The Expression Of COX-2 And Hepatocellular Apoptosis In NASH

Objectives: To explore the role of COX-2 in the pathogenosis of NASH and therelationship between COX-2 and hepatocellular apoptosis in NASH.Methods: 30 male SD rats were divided randomly into three groups. The NASHgroup(n=10) was fed with high fatty diet, the ASH(alcoholic steatohepatitis)group(n=10) was fed added with alcohol, and the control group(n=10) was fed withstandard diet. Then observed the pathological structure change of rats liver cell anddetected serum lipid value and inflammatory factor 12 weeks later. COX-2 mRNAwas detected in each groups by the method of RT-PCR.And the difference ofhepatocellular apoptosis index was detected among the groups.Results: The experimental group was higher than the control group in weight,ratioof liver weight to body weight, triglycerides and TNF-α. There was significanthepatocellular steatosis in pathology, some of which existed inflammation in lobularand portal part. The incidence of NASH in rats with high fatty diet was 100percent, high COX-2 expression was detected in the group of NASH and ASH,while it was undeteted in control group.The apoptosis index in NASH group and ASHgroup were higher than that in control group(p＜0.01,p＜0.01). There was nosignificant difference between NASH group and ASH group(p＞0.05)Conclusion: Through 12 weeks fatty foods feeding, we have established aneffective experimental rats model of NASH successfully;COX-2 may play animportant role in the pathogenosis of NASH and may induce hepatocellularapoptosis.