Protective effect of Etoricoxib against middle cerebral artery occlusion induced transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Stroke is the third leading cause of global death and disability. Cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA has been shown to be up-regulated after stroke and also the time window of its expression extends from 4 to 12 h. The objective of this study was to elucidate the protective effect of Etoricoxib (a selective Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor) against transient middle cerebral artery occlusion induced behavioral, biochemical and histological alterations.