Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor Compound 11b Improves Haloperidol-Induced Catatonia by Enhancing the Striatum Dopaminergic Neurotransmission

The aim of this research was to investigate the Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibition effect on haloperidol-induced catatonia. In this study, the effect of orally, acutely and Sub-chronically administrations of compound 11b [1-(phenyl)-5-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-2-ethylthioimidazole] (2, 4 and 8 mg/kg), a newly selective COX-2 inhibitor, was investigated against the haloperidol-induced catatonia phenomenon comparing to the standard drug scopolamine (1 mg/Kg) followed by microdialysis analysis of Striatum dopaminergic neurotransmission. The results showed a great potency for compound 11b in improvement of catalepsy followed by enhancing the dopaminergic neurotransmission p < 0.05. In addition, our statistical analysis showed that the protective effect of compound 11b against haloperidol-induced catatonia was both dose- and time-dependent. These findings are additional pharmacological data that suggest the effectiveness of compound 11b in treatment of schizophrenic drug overdoses and also Parkinson’s disease (PD) affiliated rigidity.