Does celecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, spare the traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory-mediated adverse events?

OBJECTIVE To investigate the gastrointestinal (GI) and reproductive risk associated with chronic usage of celecoxib in male albino rats. METHOD Thirty male albino rats weighing 200-230 g were randomly divided into three equal groups of 10 rats each. In group 1, the control group, rats received no drug. In group 2, rats received celecoxib (50 mg/kg/day, orally) for 30 successive days. In group 3, rats received celecoxib (50 mg/kg/day, orally), and royal jelly (300 mg/kg/day, orally) for 30 successive days. Gastric ulcer scoring and semen analysis were employed to elucidate the celecoxib adverse effects on gastric and testicular tissue functions. RESULTSCelecoxib produced no gastric ulcer in both groups 2 and 3. Celecoxib has no appreciable effect on steroidogenesis (testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells of the testis) or spermatogenesis (sperms production from germ cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testis), as indicated by normal sperm count, motility, abnormalities, and normal serum testosterone levels. Royal jelly co-administration did not cause any significant change in serum testosterone level, sperm count, and sperm motility percentage, but caused a significant decline in sperm abnormalities level. CONCLUSIONS Upper GI tolerability and reproductive safety were proved in the chronic use of celecoxib in male albino rats, with ameliorative effects of royal jelly against celecoxib-induced oxidative and apoptotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]