selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor compound 11b improves haloperidol-induced catatonia by enhancing the striatum dopaminergic neurotransmission

the aim of this research was to investigate the cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2) selective inhibition effect on haloperidol-induced catatonia. in this study, the effect of orally, acutely and sub-chronically administrations of compound 11b [1-(phenyl)-5-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-2-ethylthioimidazole] (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg), a newly selective cox-2 inhibitor, was investigated against the haloperidol-induced catatonia phenomenon comparing to the standard drug scopolamine (1 mg/kg) followed by microdialysis analysis of striatum dopaminergic neurotransmission. the results showed a great potency for compound 11b in improvement of catalepsy followed by enhancing the dopaminergic neurotransmission p < 0.05. in addition, our statistical analysis showed that the protective effect of compound 11b against haloperidol-induced catatonia was both dose- and time-dependent. these findings are additional pharmacological data that suggest the effectiveness of compound 11b in treatment of schizophrenic drug overdoses and also parkinson’s disease (pd) affiliated rigidity.