Effect of Clarithromycin administration on pregnant albino rats during the cleavage period of gestation and on their embryos

Background: Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic used to treat common infections including respiratory tract, skin and Helicobacter pylori. This work investigates whether the administration of clarithromycin to pregnant females during the cleavage phase of gestation was associated with a risk of miscarriages and offspring morphological malformation and skeletal anomalies, histological changes and DNA fragmentation of embryos and liver of pregnant rats. Two major groups of pregnant albino rats were used. The animals of the control group received distilled water from the 1[st] to 7[th] days of gestation.One subgroup [C1] was sacrificed on the 8[th] day; and the other [C2] was sacrificed on the 20[th] day of gestation. The treated group was drenched 45 mg/kg clarithromycin [therapeutic dose] suspension from 1[st] to 7[th] day of gestation. The first subgroup [T1] was sacrificed on the 8th day and the other [T2] was sacrificed on the 20th day of gestation

Results: The obtained results showed a decrease in maternal body weight gain, increase in the rate of abortion, resorption and growth retardation of fetuses and some malformation in the skeletal system of the treated group. Histopathological studies of pregnant and fetal rats revealed congestion and dilatation of the central vein, fatty degeneration of the hepatocytes and severe DNA fragmentation

Effect of Clarithromycin administration during late gestational period on the pregnant albino rats and their fetuses

Background: Clarithromycin, a new macrolide antibiotic, is effective in the management of a wide range of clinical problems including outpatient treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, shortening the course of peptic ulcer disease associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and curing previously resistant respiratory infections in immune-compromised patients. The present study is planned to study the effect of clarithromycin on the pregnant female rats and their fetuses during the last gestational period stage. This study includes the effect of clarithromycin on therate of abortion, malformation of fetuses, skeletal, histological changes and DNA fragmentation of liver cells of pregnant rats and their fetuses. In the present study two groups of pregnant animals were used. The first group received distilled water from 15[th] to 19[th] days of gestation and used as control and sacrificed at 20[th] day of gestation. The other group is orally administered with 45mg/kgclarithromycin from 15[th] to 19[th] days and sacrifices at 20[th] day of gestation [the therapeutic dose]. The obtained results showed a significant decrease in maternal body weight gain and increase in the rate of abortion, resorption and growth retardation of fetuses.Fetuses of the treated group showed severe lack of ossification on the skull bones, phalanges and sternum bone as well as shortness in the ulna and radius bones. Histological studies of pregnant rats revealed congestion and dilatation of the central vein of the liver lobules and fatty degeneration of the hepatocytes with severe DNA fragmentation.In 20 day-fetuses, there were a marked increase of necrotic hepatocytes associated with increased average of megakaryocytes and periportal leukocytic infiltration

Histological and biochemical evaluation of the effects of some antioxidants on aged testes

Different studies have demonstrated that aging clearly affects male fertility which may be attributed to the androgen deficiency. Reactive oxygen species play a central role in the pathophysiology in the aged-related decrease in male fertility. Some antioxidants have ameliorative effects on different aged organs. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of some antioxidants on aged testes. Ten adult and fifty aged male albino rats [Rattus albus] were divided into six groups. Group I [control adult], Group II [control aged], Group III [Vitamin E-treated aged], Group IV [Vitamin C-treated aged], Group V [Zinc sulphate-treated aged], Group VI [Vitamin E-, Vitamin C-and Zinc Sulphate-treated aged]. Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Zinc were administrated in doses 2.52 mg, 3.15 mg and 0.693 mg, respectively. Histological and ultrastructural evaluation of the testes were examined as well as Follicle stimulating hormone [FSH], Luteinizing hormone [LH], total and free testosterone levels in the serum were measured. Counting the number of litters per animal and the teratogenic effects was noticed. Giving zinc alone or combined with other antioxidants gave better ameliorative effects on the testicular structure and hormonal levels in the serum. No teratogenic effects of the aged animals`offspring were noticed