Evaluation of anticonvulsant effect of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor in experimentally induced convulsions in albino rats

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) exists as the inducible form of the cyclooxygenase enzyme, the levels of which are elevated in inflammatory conditions. COX-2 is located in regions of brain like hippocampus and cerebral cortex. When induced, COX-2 forms prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is responsible for CNS excitation, in turn leading to generation of seizures. COX-2 inhibitors by preventing the formation of PGE2 may serve as effective anticonvulsants. Since none of the anti-epileptics in current use are able to cure the patient of the seizures, a search for newer anti-epileptics is warranted. The present study assesses the anti-seizure activity of celecoxib against experimentally induced convulsions in Albino rats.Methods: Two models of experimentally induced convulsions in Albino rats were used: 1) maximum electroshock seizure (MES) test model and 2) pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) test model. 30 rats were taken for each method and randomly assigned to 5 groups (N=6). 1st group served as control group, which received normal saline intra-peritoneal. 2nd, 3rd and 4th groups received celecoxib in doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg respectively through intraperitoneal route. The 5th group received the standard drugs phenytoin sodium (12.5 mg/kg) and sodium valproate (100 mg/kg) through intraperitoneal route in MES and PTZ models respectively.Results: Celecoxib showed significant anticonvulsant effect with all 3 doses in MES model and with 2 doses (20 and 40 mg/kg) with PTZ model.Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that celecoxib has anticonvulsant effect in albino rats