In vivo study of teratogenic and anticonvulsant effects of antiepileptics drugs in zebrafish embryo and larvae

MARTINEZ, C.S.; FEAS, D.A.; SIRI, M.; IGARTÚA, D.E.; CHIARAMONI, N.S.; DEL V. ALONSO, S.; PRIETO, M.J.

NEUROTOXICOLOGY AND TERATOLOGY.

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2018 vol. 66 p. 17 - 24

0892-0362

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Since AEDs are administered inwomen in childbearing age, it is critical to study if drugs are capable of inducing developmental toxicity. Alongthe bibliography available, there is no research comparing teratogenicity and anticonvulsant effect within thesame study.In the present study, we evaluated the teratogenic and anticonvulsant effects of six different AEDs: carbamazepine,levetiracetam, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, phenytoin and valproic acid. Zebrafish was the selectedanimal model because of its small size, rapid external development and similar neurophysiology to mammals.Zebrafish embryo and larvae were exposed to AEDs. Embryo development was monitored by their hatchingand morphology. In larvae, locomotor activity was measured as a parameter of neurotoxicity. Finally, anticonvulsanteffect was determined after exposure to AEDs in zebrafish larvae treated with the proconvulsant drugpentylenetetrazole.Our results suggest that lamotrigine and phenytoin could be suitable non-teratogenic and efficient anticonvulsantoptions for epilepsy treatment.