Foetal hepatorenal toxicity and intrauterine growth retardation in pregnant Wistar rats treated with artemether

Year 2018, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 1 - 6, 04.06.2018

İdorenyin Udo Umoh Etukudoh Okon Jimmy

Abstract

Objectives: Foetal hepatorenal toxicity and foetal morphology were evaluated following artemether administration to pregnant

Wistar albino rats.

Methods: Twenty pregnant Wistar rats weighing between 180–200 g were divided into four groups (n=5, each) with Group 1

serving as the control. Groups 2, 3 and 4 received 1.1 mg, 2.2 mg and 3.3 mg per kilogram body weight artemether, respectively

orally, twice daily for three days on day 7, 8 and 9 of pregnancy. The animals were sacrificed on day 20 of pregnancy and foetuses

were harvested and evaluated for morphological changes. Foetal body weight and crown-rump length (CRL) were measured;

alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was assayed using amniotic fluid, and foetal kidney and liver were evaluated histologically for toxicity.

Results: There was a significant decrease in body weight, CRL and AFP of the treated groups compared to the control. The foetal

liver of the treated groups revealed distorted cytoarchitecture, marked hepatocyte inflammation and hepatic necrosis. The foetal

kidney of artemether-treated groups also showed disorganised renal structure, atrophic and degenerated glomeruli with acute

tubular necrosis.

Conclusion: Artemether administration to pregnant albino rats causes intrauterine growth retardation or stunted growth,

as well as foetal hepatorenal toxicity.

Keywords

alpha-fetoprotein; artemether; foetal hepatorenal toxicity; pregnancy

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