The Histostereological Teratogenic Effects of In-utero Exposure to Varied Doses of Lamotrigine on the Developing Fetal Brain in Albino Rats (Rattus Norvegicus).

Abstract

The histoquatitative teratogenic effects of lamotrigine on the developing fetal brain structures when exposed in-utero still remain unclear. On the other hand, lamotrigine, a second-line anticonvulsant medicine is currently widely being prescribed in the management of maternal conditions like epileptic seizures, bipolar disorders among others. The preferential use of lamotrigine is attributed to the considerations of it its efficacy, tolerability and minimal teratogenic effects on other fetal organs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histo-quantitative effects of lamotrigine on the developing fetal brain structures when exposed in utero in relation to dose and the time of exposure. The study adopted a post-test only experimental study design and a sample size of 30 sexually mature albino rat dams of species (Rattus norvegicus) weighing between 250+30grams were used. The rats were divided into 2 broad groups of 3 control and 27 experimental rats. Data collected was coded in excel spreadsheets and analyzed in SPSS. Results were expressed as mean+ standard error of the mean (SEM) and values with P<0.05 were considered to be significant. Study findings depicted a reduction in means of brain weights, length, width, volumes and volume densities of cortical and subcortical layers in a dose and time dependant manner. High lamotrigine dosages especially during first trimester were observed to be associated with adverse quantitative reduction in developing fetal brain structurers. Further studies with higher primates closer to human species as well as clinical trials are therefore recommended to rule out the safety index of lamotrigine during pregnancy.