Tenidap is neuroprotective in a pilocarpine rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Background Tenidap is a liposoluble non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is easily distributed in the central nervous system and also inhibits the production and activity of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and cytokines in vitro.This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of tenidap in a pilocarpine rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE).Methods Tenidap was administered daily at 10 mg/kg for 10 days following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus(SE)in male Wistar rats after which prolonged generalized seizures resulted in TLE.After tenidap treatment,spontaneous recurrent seizures(SRSs) were recorded by video monitoring(for 7 hours per day for 14 days).The frequency and severity of the SRSs were observed.Histological and immunocytochemical analyses were used to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of tenidap and detect COX-2 expression,which may be associated with neuronal death.Results There were 46.88±10.70 survival neurons in tenidap-SE group,while there were 27.60±5.18 survival neurons in saline-SE group at-2.4 mm field in the CA3 area.There were 37.75±8.78 survival neurons in tenidap-SE group,while there were 33.40±8.14 survival neurons in saline-SE group at-2.4 mm field in the CA1 area.Tenidap treatment significantly reduced neuronal damage in the CA3 area(P<0.05) and slightly reduced damage in the CA1 area.Tenidap markedly inhibited COX-2 expression in the hippocampus,especially in the CA3 area.Conclusion Tenidap conferred neuroprotection to the CA3 area in a pilocarpine-induced rat model of TLE by inhibiting COX-2 expression.