Evaluation of the effects of prenatal exposure to pregabalin and postnatal analysis of dental and mandibular bone tissue development in rat offspring.

Pregabalin is a gabapentinoid indicated for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and as an adjuvant therapy for epilepsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pregabalin on postnatal development, odontogenesis, and mandibular trabecular tissue using computed microtomography. Pregnant rats (N = 24) were divided into two groups: control group/placebo (C), and treated group (PGB). The PGB group received 200 mg/kg of pregabalin via gavage during the embryonic period and the C group received distilled water under the same design. On the 21st day of pregnancy, delivery occurred naturally. On the first postnatal day, the litters were reduced to four pups (2 males and 2 females) and followed up for 30 days. On postnatal day 30, eight animals from each group were randomly selected for analysis of the lower right first molar and adjacent trabecular bone. In the maternal parameters, the data revealed a significant decrease in body weight gain in addition to a smaller number of live pups. In the postnatal analysis, the exposed pups showed a significant decrease in weight and length and a delay in the eruption of the incisor teeth. Microtomography analysis revealed a significant reduction in enamel volume, a lower volume and percentage of open pores, lower total porosity, and a higher percentage of bone volume. The findings of this study showed that pregabalin altered the eruption chronology of the incisors, decreased enamel volume, affected the microarchitecture of mandibular trabecular bone, and impaired postnatal development. CONCEA-CEUA-UEL n. 11,174.2018.36, State University of Londrina, (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, Brazil; retrospectively registered on August 21, 2018.