Background: Depression during pregnancy is a very common problem worldwide, so the possibility of intake antidepressant medications during pregnancy is high. In Egypt, about 60% of pregnant women experience someforms of antenatal depression.
The most widely prescribed antidepressants worldwide are Selective serotonin and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs).The mechanism of action is poorly understood but in general, these drugs act by blocking the serotonin and/or norepinephrine transporters.
Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of venlafaxine- one of the most widely prescribed SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) on DNA, and also study its possible teratogenic effect on cardiac development.
Methods: The present study was carried out on fifty pregnant black mice (C57BL/6).The mice were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control and venlafaxine-treated groups receiving (3mg, 10mg, 30mg and 100mg/kg/day). The fetuses were dissected for the evaluation of their cardiac structure. The micronucleus test was used to detect the ability of venlafaxine to induce DNA damage.
Results: The present work showed that administration of increasing concentrations of venlafaxine resulted in significant increase in the incidence of embryo heart anomalies in black mice as VSD, pulmonary trunk dilatation and right ventricle enlargement as compared to the control group. Also, this study showed an increase in the frequency of micronuclei in the blood of the adult mice after exposure to increasing dose of venlafaxine.
Conclusions: Physicians should make a proper decision regarding prescription of SSRI in general and venlafaxine, in particular, to treat depression during pregnancy weighing the risks and benefits for both mother and fetus.