Effect of cyclooxygenas inhibition on PTZ- induced anxiety in Rat

Prostaglandins are produced by cyclooxygenase (COX) and have various physiological roles. There are some evidences which represent role of prostaglandins on anxiety. This research evaluated the effect of flunixin as a COX inhibitor on anxiety in male wistar Rats.12.5, 25 and 50μg/μl of flunixin were injected Intracerebroventriculary. Control group and positive control group received 1μl of saline Intracerebroventriculary.20mg/kg of pentylenetetrazole was injected in positive control group and flunixin administrated group Intraperitonealy as an anxiogenic. Anxiety was evaluated in elevated plus maze. Results showed that percentage of open arm enteries (%OAE) was decreased in positive control group significantly.Otherwise flunixin administrated group didn’t show any significant difference in comparison with control group. Administration of 12.5 μg of flunixin decreased percentage of open arm time significantly but 25 and 50 μg of flunixin didn’t show any significant difference. These results represent that flunixin inhibits PTZ-induced anxiety dose dependently.