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

ABSTRACT

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