Peripheral administration of novel anti-inflammatories can attenuate the effects of chronic inflammation within the CNS

In the present study we investigated whether nitroflurbiprofen (NFP) or nit ro-aspirin can reduce the inflammatory response induced by continuous infus ion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the fourth ventricular space of the ra t's brain for 30 days. The chronic LPS infusion produced an extensive infla mmation that was particularly evident in the hippocampus, subiculum and ent orhinal and piriform cortices. Daily peripheral administration of NFP dose- dependently, and significantly, attenuated the brain inflammation as indica ted by the decreased density and reactive state of microglial cells. Daily peripheral administration of nitro-aspirin also attenuated the brain inflam mation, but to a much lesser degree than NFP. The results demonstrated that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) could reduce brain inflammat ion and that NFP is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.