title: The Effect of Levetiracetam on Closure of the Midline in Early Chicken Embryos.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genetic predisposition and some environmental factors play an important role in the development of neural tube defects. Levetiracetam is a new drug that has been approved in the treatment of partial seizures. We aimed in this study to determine the effect of levetiracetam on chick embryos.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and sixty fertile non-pathogenic Super Nick eggs were incubated for 24 hours and were divided into four groups of 40 eggs each. Levetiracetam was administered via the sub-blastodermic route. The eggs were incubated for another 24 hours. All eggs were opened at the 48th hour, and the embryos were evaluated morphologically and histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effects of levetiracetam on the embryo were correlated with the dose of levetiracetam. In the light of the results, it was determined that the use of increasing doses of levetiracetam led to defects of midline closure in early chicken embryos.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levetiracetam, a new antiepileptic drug that is effective especially on calcium ion concentration, leads to defects in midline closure in embryos in a dose-dependent manner. Further studies are needed to show the mechanism of embryonic damage and the mechanisms of its teratogenous effects associated with genetic and environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Ankara University, School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ozgural
authors.forename: Ercan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armagan
authors.forename: Melih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Umit
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.forename: Gokmen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kahilogullari
authors.forename: Agahan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Unlu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam