Effect of intracerebroventricular injection of flunixin meglumine on PTZ-induced seizures in male rats

Introduction: Flunixin Meglumine (FM) is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) and nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor. Since it has been suggested that COX enzyme plays a role in seizure, this research is performed to assess the therapeutic effects that this compound might have in seizures induced by PTZ. Methods: In this research, male wistar rats (200 +/- 20 g) were given intracerebroventricular injections of saline or FM (12.5 mu g, 25 mu g and 50 mu g) in a 1 mu l volume, before intraperitoneal administration of PTZ (80 mg/kg) for induction of seizure. Then, seizure score and times of onset for every stage of seizure were recorded during 20 minutes after PTZ administration. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: injection of 25 and 50 mu g of FM significantly increased times of onset of every seizure stage compared to the control group. The group that received 50 mu g of FM did not show stage 5. On the other hand, 12.5 mu g FM group did not show any significant difference with the control group. Conclusion: We conclude that FM has dose dependent anticonvulsive properties.