Background: The Pregabalin is the latest one of the antiepileptic drugs that was added to the list, used to control the epileptic seizures. It passes the blood brain barrier so it can influence the central nervous system.
Aim of the work: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Pregabalin on the cerebellar cortex of albino rat in prenatal and postnatal life. Study the protective effect of L-carnitine.
Materials and Methods: The present study was done on 36 pregnant albino rats, divided into two main groups, one for the prenatal study and the other for the postnatal study. Each group was subdivided into a control and an experimental group. The pregnant and lactating rats in the experimental groups were treated with Pregabalin drug at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight either alone or with L- carnitine drug that was given at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. The cerebellum of all groups were dissected out and processed for histopathological studies by light and electron microscopic studies.
Results: The light microscopic examination revealed that the most affected layer of cerebellar cortex in Pregabaline treated group was the Purkinje cell layer as the cells became shrunken, disarranged and there was cell loss. The electron microscopic examination revealed degenerative changes of both Purkinje and granular cells in Pregabalin treated group. There was improvement in Pregabalin and L-carnitin treated group.
Conclusion: Pregabalin has a neurotoxic effect on developing cerebellar cortex. The harmful effect of Pregabalin can be reduced by concomitant administration of L-carnitine.