Effect of Cyclooxygenase Inhibition on P-Glycoprotein Expression and Phenytoin Level in Brain Tissue of Pilocarpine Induced Epilepsy in Rats

Abstract

Background: Increased brain P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression may play important role in resistance to antiseizure drugs. The present work aimed to overcome the drug resistance that develop due to overexpression of P-gp with subsequent increase in brain phenytoin level in epileptic rats, using either non-selective (indomethacin) or selective (celecoxib) cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Methods: Fifty-six adult male albino rats were randomly divided into seven groups. Epilepsy was induced using the lithium pilocarpine model. Rats received indomethacin (2.5 mg/kg) or celecoxib (20 mg/kg), either alone or combined with phenytoin (50 mg/kg). Seizures were evaluated using Racine score. Motor coordination was assessed using open field and rotarod tests. Phenytoin brain level was measured using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), glutamate expression was measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily B Member 1 (ABCB1) gene expression was assessed using Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemical analysis was done for P-gp expression. Results: Phenytoin combination with either indomethacin or celecoxib had improved the Racine score, motor coordination on rotarod apparatus, and open field test results. Also, phenytoin combination with either indomethacin or celecoxib decreased brain glutamate level, ABCB1 gene and P-gp expression, and increased brain phenytoin level compared to treatment with phenytoin alone. This indicated that both P-gp inhibitors indomethacin and celecoxib, increased the level of phenytoin that reached the brain of rats. However, brain uptake of phenytoin was significantly enhanced using celecoxib rather than indomethacin (CI 95%, 17.092: 32.808, P-value < 0.001). Conclusion: Cyclooxygenase inhibition using either celecoxib or indomethacin resulted in downregulation of P-gp expression, with subsequent increase in brain phenytoin level in epileptic rats.