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Retinal teratogenicity of pregabalin in chick embryo model
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey.
Insights
Pregnancy use of pregabalin significantly impacts chick embryo retinal development. Higher doses of pregabalin exposure led to dose-dependent retinal layer defects, indicating potential teratogenic effects.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pregabalin, a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog, targets α2-δ subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels.
- Its potential teratogenic effects on retinal development were unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the retinal teratogenic potential of pregabalin using a chick embryo model.
- To assess dose-dependent effects on retinal structure and development.
Main Methods:
- Fertilized chicken eggs received varying doses of pregabalin.
- Embryos were examined on day 10 of incubation via histopathology, morphometry, and immunohistochemistry (Caspase-3).
Main Results:
- Low-dose pregabalin showed no significant difference in retinal layers or thickness compared to controls.
- Medium and high doses significantly decreased retinal layer count and thickness.
- High doses prevented the formation of multiple retinal layers, including outer nuclear and inner plexiform layers.
Conclusions:
- Pregabalin use during pregnancy can compromise retinal development in a dose-dependent manner.
- Observed retinal defects suggest potential developmental risks that warrant further investigation.
Background:
Pregabalin is a gamma-aminobutyric acid analog that binds to the α2-δ subunits of the pre-synaptic voltage-dependent calcium channels of nerves with a high affinity and selectivity. In this study, the retinal teratogenic potential of pregabalin was investigated in a chick embryo model.
Materials And Methods:
Fertilised chicken eggs were divided into groups for administration with different doses of pregabalin. All eggs were opened on the 10th day of incubation. The embryos were dissected and the effects of pregabalin on the retina were investigated histopathologically, morphometrically, and immunohistochemically (Caspase-3).
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference between the low dose pregabalin, control, or vehicle control groups in terms of the number of retina layers and retinal thickness. Medium and high dose pregabalin caused a statistically significant decrease in the number of retina layers, as well as sensory retinal and pigment epithelium layer thicknesses. The outer nuclear and outer plexiform layer did not form in the group administered a medium dose. Similarly, the outer nuclear, outer plexiform, inner nuclear, and inner plexiform layer did not form in the high-dose group. No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of cellular damage and Caspase-3 expression.
Conclusion:
The use of pregabalin during pregnancy compromises retinal development in a dose-dependent manner. The use of pregabalin in pregnancy causes the aforementioned defects in this system and it may have developmental effects that needs to be further evaluated.
