الفهرس 
Assessment of the effect of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug diclofenac potassium on the pregnant rats and their fetuses
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Abstract
Objective: Diclofenac potassium is one of the most common non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs that used during pregnancy period for pain, inflammation, fever,dysmenorrheal, and menorrhagia. Their mechanism of action is through the inhibition of the biosynthesis of prostaglandins. The present work investigated for the first time,the effects of diclofenac potassium on the fetal organs and placenta as attempt to find the mechanism of its teratogenicity through inhibition of placental development. Materials and methods: The pregnant rats have been divided into 3 groups; (G1) control, (G2) administrated orally with 1.68 mg/kg diclofenac potassium from 5th to 13th gestation day (GD), and (G3) treated with the same dose from 13th to 19th GD. The pregnant rats were sacrificed at the 20th GD. The uteri were isolated and the fetuses have been exposed to morphological examination and skeletal staining.Moreover, biochemical studies on placenta, maternal liver, and fetal liver have been done. Results: We found that, embryonic resorption and subcutaneous hematoma in different parts of fetuses of the treated animals with diclofenac potassium. The malformations were manifested as skeletal abnormalities that mostly observed in the ossification of skull, ribs, and vertebrae. Moreover, curved hind limbs and wavy ribs were detected. Biochemical studies indicated a significant alteration in SOD, GSH, Catalase, and MDA levels. Conclusion: Diclofenac potassium should be avoided during pregnancy and given in just if its benefits outweigh the maternal and fetal risks, at the possible lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration