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 μg, 25 μg and 50 μg) in a 1 μl 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 μg of FM significantly increased times of onset of every seizure stage compared to the control group. The group that received 50 μg of FM did not show stage 5. On the other hand, 12.5 μg FM group did not show any significant difference with the control group. Conclusion: We conclude that FM has dose dependent anticonvulsive properties.