Abstract

EFFECT OF NORFLOXACIN ON FETAL DEVELOPMENTS IN PREGNANT FEMALE ALBINO RATS

Ashraf El Komy, Amany El-Meleh, Rabab Elzoghby and Aya Salem*

ABSTRACT

The effect of norfloxacin on fetal development in pregnant female rats was investigated in this study. Thirty pregnant female rats were divided into three groups (each of 10 female rats). Rats in the 1st and 2nd were received norfloxacin at a dose of 72 and 144 mg/kg∙b∙wt/day orally from the 6th to 15th day of gestation respectively, while the 3rd group received 0.5 ml distilled. Water orally for the same period of gestation and was used as control group. All the pregnant female rats were sacrificed on the 20th day of gestation and their fetuses were subjected to morphological, visceral and skeletal examinations. Norfloxacin at a dose 72, 144 mg/kg∙b∙wt significantly decreased the number of viable fetuses; the number of resorbed fetuses was increased and induced retardation in growth of viable fetuses; some skeletal and visceral defects in these fetuses were observed and these effects were dose dependant. Histopathological examination of internal organs of pregnant rats following oral administration of both doses of norfloxacin from 6th day of pregnancy revealed many pathological changes in liver, kidney, brain and placenta. It could be concluded that norfloxacin caused some abnormalities and fetal defects, so it is recommended to avoid using pregnancy.

Keywords: Norfloxacin, Pregnancy, Anomalies, Fetus.