Intranasal pitavastatin attenuates seizures in different experimental models of epilepsy in mice

•Intranasal pitavastatin increases latency to myoclonic jerks and generalized seizures.•Intranasal pitavastatin increases seizure threshold current in ICES.•Intranasal pitavastatin showed effective protection against status epilepticus.•Intranasal pitavastatin did not cause cognitive impairment.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of intranasal pitavastatin (PVS) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures, increasing current electroshock (ICES) seizures, and status epilepticus in mice. Intranasal PVS, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, showed significant increase in latency to PTZ-induced seizures and ICES seizure threshold compared to control; however, the effects were dose-dependent and were more significant at higher dose. Further, intranasal PVS (1.0 mg/kg) but not intravenous PVS (50.0 mg/kg) showed effective protection against PTZ-induced status epilepticus. No impairment in cognitive functions was observed following intranasal PVS (1.0 mg/kg), thus making it a prospective therapeutic approach for acute seizures and status epilepticus.