Teratogenic effects of Gabapentin on Neural Tube and skeletal development in mice

• Main Authors: M. Afshar, M.J. Golalipour, M. Hasanpour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences 2005-01-01
• Series: Journal of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Gabapentin; teratogen; skeletal malformations; neural Tube Defects
• Online Access: http://www.mazums.ac.ir/files/onlineJournals_486302=%20Afshar.pdf

Background and purpose : Gabapentin is a new Antiepileptic drugs that introduced for the treatment of partial and second generalized seizures. Other usages of this drug include relief of neuropathic pains such as diabetic and cancers neuropathy and also prophylaxy of migrane. There is little information about the teratogenic effects of this drug. Only few studies reported delay in ossification of bones and hydroureter and hydronephrosis. This study carried out to reveal the macroscopic malformation of this drug when used during the implantation and organogenesis periods.Materials and methods : 30 balb/c virgin females, aged 2.5 months and weighted 30±2 gr were housed in environmentally controlled room. A group of 3 females was caged with a single male of proven fertility overnight. Finding of vaginal plug on the following morning was regarded as gestational day (GD) 0. Mice were divided into experimental groups; ex. І=received 1400 mg /day (20mg/kg/day) and ex. II=received 1800 mg /day (26mg/kg/day) doses of Gabapentin drug for 10 subsequent days and one control group which received disstilled water intraperitoneally. They were dissected in GD18 and embryos were collected and washed with normal saline. Macroscopic observation was made using a stereomicroscope and weighed using a digital scale with 0.01 accuracy. Data were analysed by ANOVA and X2 tests using of SPSS software. Results : Both experimental groups (I, II) revealed similar malformations categorized as skeletal malformation and neural tube defects. Skeletal malformation was more frequent than neural tube defects and mostly included limbs defects,distortions and dislocations with significant difference compared with the control group (p<0.05). Spina bifida cystica was the most common form of neural tube defects. In the experimental group II, density and incidence of malformations and also fetuses resorption were higher than those of the other experimental group.Conclusion : This study revealed that Gabapentin can induce new severe malformations if this drug used subsequent to the implantation and organogenesis stages of pregnancy.