Effect of Prenatal Isotretinoin on Postnatal Development of Cornea and Lens in Albino Wistar Rat: A Morphometric and Histopathlogical Analysis

Isotretinoin is a known teratogen affecting the neuronal differentiation in developing brain. Apart from its effects on brain and other craniofacial malformations, it is also known to cause failure of detachment of the lens from the surface ectoderm. Interestingly very little is known about the teratogenic effect of isotretinoin on the development of eye. Hence in the present study we evaluated the morphometric and histopathological changes in developing cornea and lens in rats during postnatal development.The pregnant rats received16mg/kg dose of isotretinoin during gestation day 1to 7 or 12 to 18. The control group received equivalent volume of vegetable oil instead of isotretinoin. The pups were sacrificed on day 7 or 14 or 30 for histopathological and morphometric analysis using haematoxylin and eosin staining.The results of the study clearly demonstrate that prenatal isotretinoin severely affects the development and growth of the cornea in both treatment regimes. There was also a considerable damage to the morphology of the lens.This preliminary animal study clearly demonstrates the teratogenic effect of isotretinoin on developing cornea and lens.