Fig. 1.
Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor NS-398 on colonic circular muscle contractility in sham and obstruction. Rats with sham operation (sham) and obstruction (ob) were kept for 3 days (A and B) and 7 days (C and D). Daily administration of vehicle (Veh) (DMSO) or NS-398 (5 mg/kg) was given in sham or obstruction rats, starting either 1 h before operation (for prophylactic effect, A and C) or 1 day after operation (for therapeutic effect of 3-day obstruction, B) and 3 days after operation (for therapeutic effect of 7-day obstruction, D). The colonic circular smooth muscle contractile response to acetylcholine (ACh) (10−6 ∼ 10−2 M) was determined in muscle baths. (N = 3 or 4 rats for each group. *P < 0.05 vs. sham treated with vehicle).