Introduction:
Maternal mental health is an area of great unmet need. Currently, there is scarcity of data relating to the safety of commonly used medications to treat mental health disorders during pregnancy. Additionally, the effect of these drugs on human placental function has not been previously explored. Thus, we aim to determine the effect of a panel of antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, which are prescribed during pregnancy, on human placental viability and function.
Methods and Results:
Primary cytotrophoblast cells were isolated from term placental tissue and treated with increasing doses of a panel of antipsychotics or benzodiazepines that are prescribed during pregnancy. Following treatment cell viability was assessed via MTS assay. The antipsychotics olanzapine, clozapine, haloperidol and chlorpromazine all significantly induced primary cytotrophoblast death when treated at top doses (5-100uM). The remaining antipsychotics, including paliperidone and lurasidone, had no effect on placental cell viability. Interestingly, of the benzodiazepines temazepam, oxazepam and diazepam, temazepam increased absorbance of the MTS assay, suggesting either increased variability or altered cellular metabolism. No effect of oxazepam or diazepam was seen.
Conclusion:
Commonly prescribed drugs to treat maternal mental health alter placental cell viability. Given the importance of placental function for a healthy continuing pregnancy, further interrogation of these medications is required, which may help identify which drugs cause harm and those that present as safer alternatives.