A Survey of Ofloxacin Histopathological Effect on Fetus Rat Heart

Ofloxacin is an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone group consisting of broad-spectrum antibiotics widely used in various infectious diseases. Nearly 600 teratogenic factors are known that cause congenital disease in laboratory animals. One of these factors is drugs. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of ofloxacin on the development of fetus rat heart. In this study, 4-month-old Wistar rats with 300 gram weight were used and were housed in an environmentally controlled room. A group of 3 females were caged with a single male of proven fertility overnight. Finding of vaginal plug on the following morning was regarded as a gestational day 0. Pregnant rats were divided into 2 groups (control and experimental). The first were fed with rodent food and the second with rodent food plus 50 mg/kg ofloxacin every day. After collection of tissue specimen from rat newborns the heart was dissected and prepared for light microscopy. The results showed that in the group receiving ofloxacin, in comparison with the control group, myocardial cells were smaller and contain highly dense nuclei. In conclusion, the results show that the above mentioned drug could be transferred through placenta and affect the normal development of myocardial cells. These changes could have negative effects on the function of the heart after birth.