1999 Volume 14 Issue supplement Pages 104-105
Valproic acid is an anticonvulsant drug used for the treatment of epilepsy, but it shows fetal toxicity, including teratogenicity. In the present study, to elucidate the transport mechanisms of valproic acid across the blood-placental barrier, we carried out the transcellular transport and uptake experiments with human placental choriocarcinoma epithelial cells (BeWo) in culture. Transcellular transport of [3H]valproic acid across BeWo cell monolayer was unidirectional transport from maternal to fetal circulation. Uptake of [3H]valproic acid by cells was temperature and pH-dependent, and increased at acidic pH. Futhermore, various experiments are carring to evaluate the transport mechanisms of organic anion drugs across the blood-placental barrier.
