Original Paper

Effect of Nabumetone Treatment on Vascular Responses of the Thoracic Aorta in Rat Experimental Arthritis
Sibel Ülker^a, Aytül Önal^a, Funda Bölükba Hatip^c, Aye Sürücü^a, Murat Alkanat^b, Sezen Koay^a, Akgün Evinç^a

Departments of
^aPharmacology,
^bPathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, and
^cBristol Myers Squibb, Medical Department, Istanbul, Turkey

Address of Corresponding Author

Pharmacology 2000;60:136-142 (DOI: 10.1159/000028358)

  Key Words

• Adjuvant arthritis
• Nabumetone
• Cyclooxygenase
• Vascular relaxation
• Vascular contraction

  Abstract

Nabumetone is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAI) drug which is known to cause less gastrointestinal damage than other NSAI drugs. This study was performed to evaluate whether nabumetone treatment might alter the vascular aberrations related to inflammation in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Nabumetone treatment (120 or 240 mg·kg^-1·day^-1, orally) was initiated on the 15th day of adjuvant inoculation and continued for 14 days. Arthritic lesions, vascular contractile and relaxant responses and gastroduodenal histopathological preparations were evaluated 29 days after adjuvant inoculation. The contractile responses of aortic rings to phenylephrine and KCl were increased in grade 2 arthritic rats. In grade 3 arthritis only the phenylephrine contractility was decreased. The relaxant responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were decreased in grades 2 and 3. In healthy rats, nabumetone did not change the vascular responses. After treatment of arthritic rats with nabumetone, both the contractile and relaxant response of the aortic rings returned to normal, and arthritic score and paw swelling were reduced. Gastroduodenal histopathology did not show erosions or ulcers in any of the groups. In conclusion, nabumetone improved the systemic signs and vascular alterations in experimental arthritis without showing any gastrointestinal side effects.

Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Dr. Akgün Evinç
Ege Üniversitesi Tp Fakültesi, Farmakoloji Ab.D.
TR-35100 Bornova, zmir (Turkey)
Tel. +90 232 3882862, Fax +90 232 3422142, E-Mail aytul@med.ege.edu.tr

  Article Information

Received: Received: June 6, 1999
Accepted after revision: July 26, 1999
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 3, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 21