Morphological and histopathological changes of maternal levetiracetam on the cerebellar cortex of the offspring of albino rat

ABSTRACT

Levetiracetam (LEV) is being used by women with reproductive-age epilepsy at a significantly higher rate. The purpose of the study was to assess how levetiracetam treatment during pregnancy affected the offspring’s weight and cerebellum. Forty pregnant rats were divided into two groups (I, II). Two smaller groups (A, B) were created from each group. The rats in group I were gavaged with approximately 1.5 mL/day of distilled water either continuously during pregnancy (for subgroup IA) or continuously during pregnancy and 14 days postpartum (for subgroup IB). The rats in group II were gavaged with about 1.5 mL/day of distilled water (containing 36 mg levetiracetam) either continuously during pregnancy (for subgroup IA) or continuously during pregnancy and 14 days postpartum (for subgroup IB). After the work was completed, the body weight of the pups in each group was recorded, and their cerebella were analyzed histologically and morphometrically. Following levetiracetam treatment, the offspring showed decreased body weight and their cerebella displayed delayed development and pathological alterations. These alterations manifested as, differences in the thicknesses of the layers of cerebellar cortex as compared to the control groups; additionally, their cells displayed cytoplasmic vacuolation, nuclear alterations, fragmented rough endoplasmic reticulum and lost mitochondrial cristae. Giving levetiracetam to pregnant and lactating female rats had a negative impact on the body weight and cerebella of the offspring. Levetiracetam should be given with caution during pregnancy and lactation.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebellum
• levetiracetam
• offspring

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Regional Mycology and Biotechnology Center, Cairo Al-Azhar University for his appreciated helping in dealing with tissues.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Statement of ethics

Care of animals was given with the animal House, college of Medicine, Cairo University, concurring to the Direct of the Care and Utilize of Research animals.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.