Effect of cimetidine [tagamet] and ranitidine [zantac] [H2 antagonists] on fetal development in rats

ABSTRACT

The present work was carried out to study the effect of some H2-receptor antagonists on fetal development in rats. Cimetidine and ranitidine were chosen for this investigation and given orally to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis. Cimetidine in doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg b. wt. significantly increased the number of resorbed fetuses and pre- and post-implantation deaths, but decreased the number, weight and length of viable fetuses. Dilatation of cerebral ventricles and renal pelvis and pulmonary hypoplasia were recorded as visceral abnormalities. Skeletal examination of fetuses revealed incomplete ossification of skull bones and absence of caudal vertebrae and digits of fore- and hind-limbs. Ranitidine in doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg b. wt. significantly increased the number of resorbed fetuses. The anomalies observed were dilatation of cerebral ventricles and renal pelvis. The large dose of ranitidine induced absence of caudal vertebrae and digits of fore- and hind-limbs. Therefore, administration of either of both drugs should be prohibited during the period of organogenesis