Histological Study and DNA Changes in the Kidneys of Rat Fetuses Maternally Treated with Clarithromycin

Kandila, Asmaa M.; S, Gabri M.; Farrag, Abdel Razik H.; Hassan, Basma N.; I. S, Doaa Ezz-Eldin

doi:10.12816/0018762

Histological Study and DNA Changes in the Kidneys of Rat Fetuses Maternally Treated with Clarithromycin

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Pharmacology Department, National Organization for Drug Control and Research, Giza, Egypt

² Zoology and Entomology Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Pathology Department, Medical Research Division National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

10.12816/0018762

Abstract

Introduction: macrolide antibiotics are a class of potent and well established antimicrobials that also possess anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory properties. Because of their size, lower levels of macrolides are able to reach the developing fetuses.
Materials and method: the pregnant rats were orally administered with clarithromycin at early and late gestational periods. The 20 day-old fetuses were dissected for excision of the kidney. Half of the kidney was processed and stained with H & E, PAS, Masson’s trichrome and Feulgen techniques then followed by morphometric measurements and statistical study. The other half of the kidney was preserved for DNA fragmentation assay.Results: This study revealed that clarithromycin administration to pregnant rats showed different histopathological, histochemical and DNA changes in the kidneys of their fetuses.
Conclusion: Administration of the antimicrobial agent; clarithromycin at early and late gestational periods exhibits nephrotoxicity in the developing fetuses.

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