Escitalopram is one of a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) described for depression during pregnancy and lactation. Although many studies refer that exposure to SSRI in early pregnancy, increase abnormal disorders, including anencephaly, craniosynostosis, omphalocele, cardiovascular abnormalities, septal defects in certain limb reduction, anal atresia, cystic kidney, hypospadias, clubfoot, and undescended testis more studies needed concerning safety during pregnancy. The purpose of our study was to find if escitalopram is linked to increased risk for foetuses skeletal disorders and analyze gene expression of Rspo2, Hao1 and Runx2 genes in foetuses bone. According to the present results, a significant decrease in groups 1,2,3,4 for Hao1 gene was reported, the expression values of HAO1 gene were downregulated by -1.66, -0.96, -0.95 and -0.47 respectively comparing with control. Rspo2 gene expression showed a significant difference in groups 1,2,3,4 in comparison with control group. The expression of Rspo2 gene was remarkably decreased in (G2) and (G3) by -3.057, -0.253. The expression values of Runx2 gene were downregulated by -0.07 & -0.04 in (G1) & (G4) respectively and significantly increased in (G2) when compared with control. Maternally and paternally treated foetuses with escitalopram exhibited shortness of some bones and reduced ossification of others. Bones and cartilages of foetuses of groups 3,4 were the most affected by escitalopram.
Key words: Antidepressants, skeletal malformation, gene expression, bone, cartilage.
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