Effects of single dose of heroin on the foetal development in mice

The purpose of this study was to test heroin for its teratogenecity in mice and to identify the primordial structures affected. Experimental Study at Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. 60 non pregnant adult female mice and 20 adult male mice were used in this study. Pregnant mice in experimental groups were injected intraperitoneally diacetylmorphine [Heroin] in a dose of 5, 10, 20 mg/kg body weight of the animal on day 7, 9 or 11 of gestation. All the animals were sacrificed on the day 18 of gestation; Foetuses were delivered and studied for the morphological defects. A dose of 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight of the animal had no teratogenic effect on any day of gestation while a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight produced malformations in central nervous system when injected on day 11 of gestation. The establishment of the tertogenic potential of heroin needs further evaluation

Effects of single dose of ethanol on foetal liver in mice

The major purpose was to look at the effects of ethanol on liver in foetal mice both gross and microscopic. In addition the effects of ethanol exposure by day gestation and dose on foetal liver weight was examined. Experimental Study at Department of Anatomy, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore. 63 non pregnant adult female mice and 21 adult male mice were used in this study. Pregnant mice in experimental groups were given ethanol on day 5, 7 or 9 of gestation in a dose of 1.0, 2.8 and 5.8 gm/kg body weight. The liver of the each foetus was dissected, processed and studied. A small single dose of ethanol has no significant effect on the developing liver of the foetus. Whereas a single large dose significantly reduces the weight of the organ, which is dose, related. It also suppresses the development of the haemopoetic and hepatic cells. Ethanol is hepatotoxic to the foetus even in a single large dose if given early in pregnancy to the mother