The effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium on the fetuses of albino mice

Abstract

introduction : The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium on the fetuses of albino mice from the morphological and skeletal points of view .Material and methods :Sixty adult pregnant female mice in the present study .They were allocated into 6 groups (10 mice each).the first two groups served as control and were injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with solvent of the drug and the 3th and 5th groups were treated with 1.5 and 3 mg/kg.body weight of diclofenac sodium for 6 days (gestation days 1-6),respectively ,the 4th and 6th groups were treated with 1.5 and 3 mg/kg.body weight of the drug (gestation days 7-14),respectively . Results :the morphological examination of the fetuses of treated groups showed conspicuous decrease in the average body weight and body lenge drugth in all treated groups .The fetuses maternally treated with the drug showed notirceable external morphological malformations and their skeleton exhibited mild retardation in skeletal elements . In conclusion :the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac sodium had exerted marked morphologicaltmalformatioternally ns and mild skeletal alterations in mice fetuses maternally treated during different periods of gestation.