Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira (Aug 2022)

Celecoxib in the treatment of orofacial pain and discomfort in rats subjected to a dental occlusal interference model

  • Andrea Whitehurst Ary Leitão,
  • Marcela Maria Fontes Borges,
  • Joyce Ohana de Lima Martins,
  • Antônio Alexandre Coelho,
  • Anna Clara Aragão Matos Carlos,
  • Ana Paula Negreiros Nunes Alves,
  • Paulo Goberlânio de Barros Silva,
  • Fabrício Bitu Sousa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/acb370506
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 37, no. 5

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor on trigeminal ganglion changes and orofacial discomfort/nociception in rats submitted to an experimental model of dental occlusal interference (DOI). Methods: Female Wistar rats (180-200 g) were divided into five groups: a sham group (without DOI) (n=15); and four experimental groups with DOI treated daily with 0.1 mL/kg saline (DOI+SAL), 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg celecoxib (DOI+cel -8, -16, -32) (n=30/group). The animals were euthanized after one, three, and seven days. The bilateral trigeminal ganglia were analyzed histomorphometrically (neuron cell body area) and immunohistochemically (COX-2, nuclear factor-kappa B [NFkB], and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-y [PPARy]). A bilateral nociception assay of the masseter muscle was performed. The number of bites/scratches, weight, and grimace scale scores were determined daily. One-way/two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)/Bonferroni post hoc tests were used (P < .05, GraphPad Prism 5.0). Results: DOI+SAL showed a reduction in neuron cell body area bilaterally, whereas DOI+cel-32 exhibited a significative increase in neuron cell body area compared with DOI+SAL group (P < 0.05). The ipsilateral (P=0.007 and P=0.039) and contralateral (P < 0.001 and P=0.005) overexpression of COX-2 and NFkB and downregulation of PPARy (P=0.016 and P < 0.001) occurred in DOI+SAL, but DOI+cel-32 reverted this alteration. DOI+SAL showed increase in isplateral (P < 0.001) and contralateral (P < 0.001) nociception, an increased number of bites (P=0.010), scratches (P < 0.001), and grimace scores (P=0.032). In the group of DOI+cel-32, these parameters were reduced. Conclusions: Celecoxib attenuated DOI-induced transitory nociception/orofacial discomfort resulting from trigeminal COX-2 overexpression.

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