COX-2-derived prostaglandins do not contribute to coronary flow regulation in diabetic rats: distinct secretion patterns of PGI2 and PGE2

Abstract

The role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in restoring the functions of impaired endothelium is attracting considerable attention, notably the function of COX-2-derived vasodilatory prostaglandins is disputed in the context of the regulation function in the impaired vascular beds. We have examined the hypothesis that COX-2 activity contributes more to vasodilation in hyperglycemic animals than in healthy counterparts, and that COX-2 derived vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGI(2) and PGE(2)) are responsible for this effect. Using the Langendorff heart perfusion system, the effects of COX-2 inhibition were monitored on both basal and bradykinin-induced coronary flows in Sprague-Dawley rats given 8-week streptozotocin-induced diabetes and in age-matched controls (n=15). Secretions of PGI(2) and PGE(2), both total and the COX-2 dependent pools, have also been compared. The selective COX-2 inhibitor, N-[2-(cyclohexyloxy)-4-nitrophenyl]-methanesulfonamide (NS-398), had no effect on coronary flow in the diabetic group of animals. Thus, the compensatory role of COX-2 in regulation of vascular tone in experimental diabetes found in other experimental models was not confirmed. However, COX-2 activity significantly contributed to PGI(2) synthesis in healthy rats, with prostacyclin secretion being two-fold decreased by NS-398. Contrary to our hypothesis, neither prostacyclin nor PGE(2) production differed between the experimental groups under the basal conditions. Bradykinin had no effect on the secretion of PGI(2) in either group, but increased PGE(2) synthesis in healthy animals, although not in the streptozotocin group. PGE(2) production in response to bradykinin was COX-2-dependent in control animals. We conclude that, in rats with 8-week streptozotocin-induced diabetes, the activity of COX-2 in coronary vasculature is not significantly enhanced.