الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Pregabalin (trade name ‘Lyrica’) is one of the most recent antiepileptic drugs. It is also used in several medical therapies such as neuropathic pain and anxiety disorders. Recently, pregabalin abuse potential has increased among vulnerable population with doses that exceed the therapeutic ones which was the leading cause of the focusing of the new scientific studies on its susceptible toxicological effect. Previous studies showed that pregabalin affects neurotransmitters levels and as well as the behavior of abusers. Also, many case reports has been published concerning the toxic effect of pregabalin on liver in addition to other in vitro studies that showed its serious effect on the histopathological level.
In our study, eighty rats are randomly allocated into 2 groups. group (I) included 40 rats which received distilled water orally for 8 weeks and considered as control group. group (II) included 40 rats which received pregabalin at a dose of 300 mg/kg once daily, orally for 8 weeks and considered as pregabalin group. Behavioral assessment was conducted every 2 weeks though out the study. Then all animals were scarified. Blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis. Histopathological examination of brain and liver was conducted through H & E staining.
Our data showed that pregabalin at this high dose elevated the levels of all the tested neurotransmitters including glutamate, dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and finally GABA. This increase affected the behavior of pregabalin rats by moderate reduction of anxiety, increasing motor activity and improving short memory. Under the microscope, pregabalin caused mild degenerative changes in the pyramidal cells of brain. Also, pregabalin harmed the liver on both biochemical and histopathological levels. It elevated AST, ALT, T.B, alkaline phosphatase and glucose values. Microscopically, pregabalin produced severe degenerative changes and necrosis of hepatocytes, congestion of blood vessels and lymphocytic infiltration with proliferation of van kupffer cells.