Piroxicam reduced the intensity of epileptic seizures in a kindling seizure model

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The close relationship between inflammatory processes and epileptic seizures is already known, although the exact pathophysiological mechanism is unclear. In this study, the anticonvulsant capacity of piroxicam, an anti-inflammatory drug, was evaluated. A rat pentylenetetrazole kindling model was used.

Methods: Male Wistar rats, 8–9 weeks old, received piroxicam (0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg), diazepam (2 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days, and PTZ, on alternate days. Intraperitoneal was chosen as the route of administration. The intensity of epileptic seizures was assessed using a modified Racine scale. The open field test and object recognition analysis were performed at the beginning of the study to ensure the safety of the drugs used. At the end of the protocol, the animals were euthanized to measure the levels of inflammatory (TNF-a and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in the cortex, hippocampus, and serum.

Results:There were no changes in the open field test and object recognition analysis. Piroxicam was found to decrease Racine scale scores at both concentrations. The reported values for IL-6 levels remained steady in all structures, whereas the TNF-alpha level in the cortex was higher in animals treated with piroxicam than in the saline and diazepam subjects. Finally, animals treated with the anti-inflammatory drug presented reduced IL-10 levels in the cortex and hippocampus.

onclusions: Using inflammation as a guiding principle, the anticonvulsant effect of PIRO could be associated with the hippocampal circuits, since this structure showed no increase in inflammatory cytokines.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Epilepsy
• inflammation
• kindling seizure model
• pentylenetetrazole
• piroxicam
• Racine Scale

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval

The experiments were approved by the Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (CEUA − 23554).

Availability of data and material

The data of current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.