"Histological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Prenatal Ciprofloxacin Exposure on Neonatal Rat Liver and the Potential Protective Role of Alpha-Lipoic Acid" | ||
| Minia Journal of Medical Research | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 09 July 2025 | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/mjmr.2025.397352.1998 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Sayed Fouad Elsheikh1; Mohamed Ahmed Desouky2; Esraa Hassan Abdelmoghny* 3; Medhat Atta4 | ||
| 1Human Anatomy and Embryology Department, Minia University, Minia | ||
| 2Anatomy and Embryology department Faculty of medicine Minia university | ||
| 3Anatomty and embryology department, faculty of medicine ,minia university,minia,Egypt | ||
| 4Assistant professor of Anatomy and Embryology Department Faculty of Medicine, Minia University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Ciprofloxacin is a commonly prescribed fluoroquinolone antibiotic, but its safety during pregnancy—particularly its potential to induce hepatotoxicity in the offspring—remains a subject of ongoing debate. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), known for its antioxidant properties, may offer a protective effect. Aim:This study aimed to objectively evaluate the histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical effects of prenatal ciprofloxacin exposure on neonatal rat liver, and to investigate the potential protective role of alpha-lipoic acid. Materials and Methods: Pregnant rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 15). Group I received distilled water, Group II received ciprofloxacin (100 mg/kg/day) from gestational day 7 to 17, and Group III received ciprofloxacin as in Group II along with ALA (75 mg/kg/day) from day 0 to 21. After delivery, 10 neonates from each group were sacrificed, and liver samples were processed for H&E, PAS, Masson’s trichrome staining, caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis. Results: Ciprofloxacin caused hepatocellular degeneration, vascular congestion, collagen deposition, and increased caspase-3 expression, along with elevated liver enzymes. Co-administration of ALA led to considerable improvement in these histological and biochemical alterations. Conclusion: Prenatal ciprofloxacin exposure induced structural and functional liver damage in neonatal rats. ALA co-treatment provided considerable protection against these changes. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Ciprofloxacin; alpha-lipoic acid; neonatal hepatotoxicity; histology; immunohistochemistry | ||
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