مرکز تحقیقات بیولوژی کاربردی تکوین جانوری

Background and Objective: Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an antiepileptic drug that causes
significant malformations such as neural tube defects (NTDs), cardiac, skeletal and craniofacial
defects if it is consumed during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective
effect of folic acid on prevention of birth defect due to Carbamazepine in Balb/c mice.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Sixty Balb/c timed-pregnant mice were
divided into 4 experimental and 2 control groups. Two experimental groups received daily
intraperitoneal injections of 30 mg/kg (group I) and 60 mg/kg/body weight (group II) of CBZ on
gestational days (GD) 6 to 15. Two other experimental groups (group III and IV) received
similar doses of CBZ with folic acid supplement (3 mg/kg/day) by gavages route for 10 days
before pregnancy and 15 days after GD0 (gestational day 0). Two control groups received
normal saline or Tween 20 (polysorbate 20). Dams underwent cesarean section on GD18 and
embryos were collected. External examination was done and data concerning malformations,
weight and crown- rump of fetuses were collected and analyzed by using SPSS-11.5 software
and ANOVA and chi-square tests.
Results: The mean weight and crown-rump of the fetuses in both experimental groups I and II
were significantly reduced. Also in both experimental groups I and II various malformations
were detected such as open eyes, limb defects, scoliosis, facial deformity and NTDs. The mean
weight and crown-rump of fetuses in the folic acid treated groups did not show any meaningful
differences in comparison with fetuses in experimental groups I and II. Also, meaningful
reductions in eye, vertebral, limb and facial defects were seen in fetuses of group III. In
experimental group IV, reduction of vertebral and limb defects were observed.
Conclusion: This study showed that consumption of folic acid (3 mg/kg/body weight) before
and during pregnancy can reduce birth defects due to CBZ in Balb/c mice fetus