Effect of oxytetracycline on the postnatal development of the pancreas in rabbit: a light and electron microscopic study

ABSTRACT

Sixteen pregnant Californian rabbits were used in this study and divided into control and treated groups. The later group was injected with tetracycline from the 11th to the 15th day of pregnancy by a single daily dose [5 mg/kg]. Small fragments from the tail of the fetal pancreas at 3 and 20 days postnatally were taken and processed for EM examination. The exocrine and endocrine parts of the control fetal rabbit pancreas reached the adult form at the 20th day after birth as detected by light and EM examination. The study advised the avoidance of tetracycline in pregnant women throughout the period of pregnancy