Carbamazepine Causes Changes in Maternal Reproductive Performance and Fetal Growth Retardation in Rats

ABSTRACT Purpose Carbamazepine (CBZ) is widely used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, affective disorders, and mainly as an anticonvulsant, specially by fertile women, due to their need to continuously use CBZ during pregnancy and the lactation period. CBZ crosses the placenta barrier and may impair pregnancy and the embryonic development. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of CBZ on maternal reproductive outcome, besides fetal growth and development in Wistar rats. Methods Rat dams received CBZ (20mg/Kg/day) or propylene glycol (vehicle) via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection throughout the gestational period. On the 19 th day of gestation, the ovary and uterine contents were examined, and the placenta and fetuses were analyzed. Results The CBZ exposure during pregnancy caused a reduction in fetal weight, fetal weight classification, and crown-rump distance. CBZ also decreased the implantation index, average number of corpora lutea, fetal weights and crown-rump length and increased the pre and post-implantation loss rate. The CBZ-exposed fetus also presented external congenital malformations. Conclusion The results suggest that maternal exposure to CBZ interfered on several maternal reproductive outcomes and can cause severe fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).