Figure 4.

(A) Expression of COX-2 mRNA in the aorta of rabbits fed an atherogenic diet and its modification by ASA (5 mg·kg⁻¹ per os, bid), rofecoxib (25 mg·kg⁻¹ per os, bid) or a combination of both. For each aorta, the ratio of COX-2 versus GAPDH gene expression was determined, and the relative increase in comparison with control animals on standard diet was calculated and set to one. (B) Western blot analysis of COX-2 protein expression in the aorta of rabbits fed an atherogenic diet and its modification by ASA (5 mg·kg⁻¹ per os, bid), rofecoxib (25 mg·kg⁻¹ per os, bid) or a combination of both; the results were obtained by using fluorescent secondary antibodies and the Odyssey Infrared Imaging System. The data are mean ± SEM of the number of experiments indicated in the columns; *P < 0.05 (treatment vs. CON).