study of protective effect of deferroxamine on fetal skeletal anomalies induced by doxorubicin administration in pregnant female albino rats

ABSTRACT

Doxorubicin or adriamycin [DXR] is a potent chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of certain neoplastic diseases. Toxicity of Doxorubicin has been reported to be reduced by co-treatment with antioxidant and potent heavy metal chelators as deferroxamine. To evaluate such effect on Doxorubicin induced teratogenesis, twenty four pregnant female albino rats were equally divided into 3 groups. The first group was served as a control group. The second group was injected intraperitoneally [IP] with DXR [3.6 mg /kg B.W.] while the third group was injected by Deferroxamine [250 mg /Kg] 30 minutes before DXR injection [3.6 mg /kg B.w]. On the 20 th - gestation day, dams were sacrificed and examined. There was a high embryo toxic effect [80%] in dams of the second group. While in Deferroxamine treated, rats the resorption decreased to 45.8% and fetuses had numerous malformations as malformed vertebrae, wavy ribs, absence of femur, radius, ulna, tibia, fibula and metacarpal bones. Theses results recommended councelling pregnant female about doxurubicin teratogenic effect and protective role of Deferroxamine in such condition