Embryotoxicity of fluoroquinolones in rats

Abstract EN

This study was designed to investigate the possible developmental fetotoxicity and teratogenicity of Norfloxacin (NFX), Ciprofloxacin (CPX) and Enrofloxacin (ENX) in rats.

Eighty pregnant female rats were divided into four equal groups, the first three groups were given daily single oral doses of NFX, 700 mg / kg / day, CPX 550 mg / kg / day, and ENX 750 mg / kg / day respectively and the last group was given dimethyl sulphoxide (DMS) 0.5 ml / animal / day.

All animals administered the drugs and the vehicle from the day 1 to the day 15 of gestation period.

Ten animals from each group were sacrificed at day 15 of gestation by cervical dislocation, the other ten animal from each group were left till labor.

Embryos and pups were evaluated for litter size, weight, resorption ratio, fetal lost and external features.

The effect of drugs on the length of gestation period was also evaluated.

The results revealed that fluroquinolones were significantly decrease litter size, and fetal weight, and increase fetal resorption ratio and fetal lost as compared to control either fetuses evaluated at day 15 of pregnancy or those evaluated after birth.

Gross examination showed some teratogenic abnormalities in fetuses and pups of mothers treated with fluoroquinolones during the first 15 days of pregnancy.