effect of amoxicillin on the fetuses of albino mice

Introduction: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the beta-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin on the fetuses of albino mice from the morphological and skeletal points of view

Material and methods: Twenty four adult pregnant mice were used in the present study. They were allocated into 3 groups [8 mice each]. The first group served as a control and were injected intraperitoneally [i.p.] with the solvent of the drug and the second and third groups were treated with 205 and 820 mg/kg body weight of amoxicillin for 8 days [gestation days 7-14], respectively

Results: The morphological examination of the fetuses of treated groups showed growth retardation of mice fetuses as represented by the conspicuous decrease in the average body weight and body length in the two treated groups. No external malformations were recorded among fetuses maternally treated with the low dose of the drug. On the other hand, the fetuses maternally treated with the high dose showed mild external morphological malformations. In addition, the skeleton of the two treated groups exhibited incomplete ossification in most skeletal elements

Conclusion: The beta-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin had exerted mild morphological malformations and skeletal abnormalities in mice fetuses maternally treated during organogenesis period of gestation

Histological and ultrastructural studies on the effect amoxicillin on the stomach of mouse fetuses

Introduction: B-Lactam antibiotics are widely used because of their lack of toxicity in humans. However, during pregnancy, exposure of the fetus is likely to occur due to b-lactam antibiotics cross the placenta. The potential adverse effects of amoxicillin were examined in stomach of mice fetuses

Material and Methods: This study was aimed to evaluate the possible side effects produced by amoxicillin prenatal administration on the stomach of fetuses. Twenty pregnant mice were used in this study; and were divided into two groups: the first group served as a control group and injected by saline solution [the drug solvent]; the second group treated with amoxicillin dose of 205 mg/kg body weight. The treatment was daily administered interperitoneally, from the 7[th] day of gestation till the 14[th] day of gestation [GDs 7-14]. The developing 19-days old fetuses were examined histologically and ultrastructurally to determine any disorders in the stomach

Results: This study illustrated marked deleterious consequences in the gastric wall of 19 day old fetus, following the treatment with amoxicillin, ranging from marked vacuolations and erosions in the epithelial and glandular cells of the gastric mucosa to conspicuous necrosis of glandular [parietal and zymogenic] cells. The electron microscopical examination of the gastric mucosal cells of fetuses maternally treated with amoxicillin, revealed conspicuous alterations, in the cytoplasmic organelles of gastric mucosal cells [surface epithelial, peptic and parietal cells]. The cisternae of RER were dilated and fragmented. The mitochondria displayed gradual devastations

Conclusions: Therefore, the destructive impacts of amoxicillin on the stomach of mice fetuses indicated that it should be used under restricted precautions in the medical fields to protect the pregnant women from its hazardous impact