Protective Effect of Flax Seed on Brain Teratogenicity Induced by Lamotrigine in Rat Fetuses.

Mahsa Kamali,Javad Hami,Habibolah Johari

doi:10.3897/folmed.62.e46759

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of flax seed on the teratogenic activity of lamotrigine in the brain of fetuses of rats who had received the drug. In this experimental study, 40 female rats were assigned randomly into four groups and after mating and confirming the vaginal plug, the control animals (group 1) were kept with no intervention, and the other three experimental groups were intraperitoneally injected with respective lamotrigine (75 mg/kg), and 100 and 200 mg/kg of flax seed hydroalcoholic extract. The drug was administered during the organogenesis period. Rats were sacrificed at the 20th day of gestation (one day before term) and fetuses were macroscopically examined, weighed and crown-rump length measured. Fetal brain specimens were processed for H&E and for histological study, using the ImageJ software. Results showed that fetuses of the experimental groups that received lamotrigine had reduced body weight, prefrontal cortical and hippocampal thickness, and pyramidal neurons in the hip-pocampus; Nevertheless, these factors were improved by high-dose administration of flax seed in the experimental group 3 and 4. Our research concludes that lamotrigine negatively influences the development of brain in rats and flax seed has a protective impact on these complications.

Highlights

According to the World Health Organization approximately 70 million people live with epilepsy worldwide[1] the majority of whom (>80%) are living in low- and middle-income countries.[2]
Lamotrigine is an anti-epileptic drug and a neuromodulator, which has been used in the treatment of epilepsy and mood disorders
The Flax seed was collected from Fars suburbs and after being authenticated by a botanist in the Research Center of Jahad-e-Keshavarzi, a herbarium sample was prepared and deposited in the Herbarium Unit of Medical Plants Research Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 500 ml of ethanol (70%) was added to 500 g of the plant powder in an appropriate container, and filtered after 72 hours

Summary

Introduction

According to the World Health Organization approximately 70 million people live with epilepsy worldwide[1] the majority of whom (>80%) are living in low- and middle-income countries.[2] This disease brings special issues for women, in pregnancy. It is estimated that around 15% to 30% of women may have an increase in seizure frequency, most often in the first or third trimester.[3]. Lamotrigine is an anti-epileptic drug and a neuromodulator, which has been used in the treatment of epilepsy and mood disorders. This drug is considered to be effective against partial tonic-clonic and secondarily generalized seizures.[4].

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Conclusion