Effect of Quercetin on Sodium Valproate Induced Neural Tube Defects and Skeletal Teratogenicity in Rat Embryos

Sodium valproate is the sodium salt of valproic acid and is an anticonvulsant used in the treatment of epilepsy. Teratogenic effects of sodium valproate were seen in some studies. There are many reports that the teratogenic effects of sodium valproate can be decreased by application of antioxidant drugs and stimulation of maternal immune system. It seems that quercetin has an antioxidant effect. The aim of this study was to determaine protective effects of sodium valproate induced teratogenicity in fetuses of rat by quercetin. This study was performed on 36 pregnant rats randomly assigned to six groups (6 rats in each group). The first group (control group) received normal saline intraperitonealy and the other groups (test groups) received sodium valproate (300 mg/kg), quercetin (75 mg/kg), quercetin (200 mg/kg), sodium valproate plus quercetin (75 mg/kg) and sodium valproate plus quercetin (200 mg/kg) intraperitonealy, respectively. Fetuses were carried out in 20th day of gestation, then weight and length of fetuses was determined; they were stained by Alizarin red- Alcian blue method and investigated by stereomicroscope for teratogenic effects. Percentage of cleft palate, spina bifida and exencephaly was 17.70%, 20% and 20%, respectively, in group which received only sodium valproate, while it was decreased to 13.95%, 11.62% and 13.95% by quercetin (75 mg/kg) and so to 11.11%, 11.11% and 11.11%, respectively, in the group which received qeurcetin (200 mg/kg). Thus, quercetin can decrease incidence of teratogenicity induced by sodium valproate.