Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 improves cardiac function in myocardial infarction

Induction of cyclooxygenase-a (COX-2) in ischemic myocardium is thought to increase the production of proinflammatory prostanoids and contribute signi ficantly to the ischemic inflammation. Left ventricular myocardial infarcti on (MI) was created by ligating the left coronary artery in Lewis rats. Hem odynamic measurements at 4 weeks showed better cardiac function in the grou p treated with a selective COX-2 inhibitor (DFU; 5 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks a fter induction of MI compared to the vehicle treated group. These results s uggest that induction of COX-2 contributes to myocardial dysfunction, and t hat selective inhibition of COX-2 could constitute an important therapeutic target for the treatment of MI. (C) 2000 Academic Press.