Prostaglandin-mediated control of rat brain kynurenic acid synthesis – opposite actions by COX-1 and COX-2 isoforms

Kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous glutamate-receptor antagonist preferentially blocking NMDA-receptors, has analgesic properties and has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Recently, the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac was found to increase rat brain KYNA. Here, we analyze whether cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 or COX-2 modulate the levels of rat brain KYNA. The non-selective COX-inhibitor diclofenac (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or indomethacin (50 mg/kg, i.p.), a non-selective inhibitor with a preferential selectivity for COX-1, produced an elevation in brain KYNA. In contrast, the COX-2 selective inhibitors parecoxib (25 mg/kg, i.p.) or meloxicam (5 mg/kg, i.p.) decreased brain KYNA. Both elevation and lowering of brain KYNA by indomethacin or parecoxib, respectively, were prevented by the prostaglandin E1/E2 agonist misoprostol (1 mg/kg, s.c.). It is proposed that increased brain KYNA formation induced by NSAIDs displaying an inhibitory action on COX-1 contribute to their analgesic efficacy as well as to their psychiatric side effects.