Objective To observe the inhibition effect of selective cyclooxygenase2 inhibitor（celecoxib）on the experimental choroidal neovascularization（CNV）. Methods Thirty 8-10 weeks old healthy male Brown-Norway（BN）rats were randomly divided into the control, laser and celecoxib group,with 10 rats in each group. At the dosage of 50 mg/kg, celecoxib was gavaged twice per day. After 7 days, experimental CNV was induced by Krypon laser on laser group and celecoxib group. Fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) was performed on days 3, 7,14,21,30 after laser photocoagulation.On days 21 after photocoagulation, 5 rats in each group were sacrificed and the relative thickness of CNV membranes, the expression of COX-2, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2) were studied by histopathologic or immunohistochemistry examination.Results On days 21 after photocoagulation, the incidence of CNV in the celecoxib group is significantly lower than that in the laser group (chi;2=7.1068,P=0.0077); the relative thickness of the CNV membranes in the celecoxib group is reduced 41.38% compared to the laser group, the difference is statistically significant (t=16.760 0，P=0.0000).COX-2,VEGF and MMP-2 expression in the CNV membrane of celecoxib group were significantly lower than in control group (t=5.710 0,5.840 0, 8.020 0; P=0.000 0); the COX-2, VEGF and MMP-2 expressions in choroid and retina of control group were weak. Conclusion Prophylactic celecoxib can reduce the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 by inhibiting COX-2, and prevent the CNV induced by laser photocoagulation.
