Modulatory effect of aspirin on anxiety-like behavior induced by pentylenetetrazole kindling

Epilepsy in humans is characterized by seizures companied partly by mental and emotional deficits. The most commonly forms of affective psychopathology accompanying seizure disorders in humans are depression and anxiety.Neuroinflammation is implicated in etiology or neuropathology of not only neurodegenerative disease but also a number of psychiatric disorders. Kindling is a chronic model of epilepsy. The aim of present study was to explore the effect of aspirin an anti-inflammatory drug on anxiety-like behavior in kindled rat. Methods & materials: Three groups of male rats (8 in each group) were administered daily with vehicle, aspirin 15 and 30 mg/kg, orally. Kindling was induced by subconvulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ 40 mg/kg,i.p).Kindling parameters in the control and aspirin treated groups were determined. One separate group of rats received vehicle only throughout the study and served as control group. The elevated plus maze was used in combination the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the maze (OAT%) and percentage of entries in to the open arms (OAE %) to measure anxiety. increase in OAT% and OAE% indicate an anxiolytic effect (reduction in anxiety). Kindling significantly (P<0.05) results in increased anxiety response in rats for at least 24h following the last seizure (Decrease in OAT% and OAE %).Daily aspirin (15,30 mg/kg) treatment induced a significant (P<0.05) increase in OAT% and OAE%,there by displaying decreased anxiety in kindled rats. Also significant change in the activity of animals was observed. Results of the present study show that aspirin could improve elevated levels of anxiety in kindled rats.