Effect of Vigabatrin on central Nervous system of albino rats

Abstract

Vigabatrin is an antiepileptic drug that has demonstrated significant efficacy as adjunctive therapy for patients with poorly controlled partial epilepsy, refractory to other antiepileptic drugs. It is the drug of choice for infantile spasms. In the present study, Vigabatrin was administered to albino rats in mild, moderate and high doses. Vacuolation was a significant finding in all treated groups and in all regions of the central nervous system that were studied, with severity increasing with increasing doses. IME secondary to elevated levels of GABA may underlie the pathogenesis. Demyelination was found at a few selected sites suggesting that different parts of the brain have different affinity for this feature after treatment with Vigabatrin. In the cerebellum and retina, significant degenerative and atrophic changes were seen even in mild dose treated group.. Focal neuronal and neuroglial loss was mainly evident in these two parts suggesting that they are the main targets of toxic damage by Vigabatrin. Congested blood vessels and dilated perivascular spaces, found in all regions under study, were signs of edema. The involvement of retina explains the high incidence of visual field defects associated with the use of this drug. Present study has also demonstrated histopathological involvement 90 of the cerebellum which suggests that further extended studies should be done and should be correlated with the cerebellar functions.