Hepatic and Renal Effects of Propoxyphene Napsylate on Pregnant Rats

As a less potent opioid analgesic and CNS depressant than morphine, propoxyphene abuse constitutes a potential risk among pregnant women. Since literature data indicate the possibility of serious side effects on liver compartment, in this work we examined the effects the chronic administration of this drug on both pregnant rats and their concepts. Female rats were treated during the entire pregnancy (from day 0 up to day 20) with 5, 15 or 45 mg/kg of propoxyphene napsylate once daily, by gavage. Controls received the drug vehicle. At term, samples from both maternal and foetal kidneys and livers were taken and prepared for optical and electron microscopy examination. Upon optical microscopy or electron microscopy examination, no morphological alterations were seen on either maternal or foetal livers of propoxyphene-treated pregnant rats. However, maternal and foetal kidneys showed signs of toxicity mainly in the group of rats treated with the highest dose of the drug, especially at the proximal convoluted tubules. Our results suggest that, in the rat, the physiological modifications inherent to pregnancy shifted the main focus of toxicity of propoxyphene from the liver to the kidney. The mechanisms involved in such phenomenon are at present unresolved

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rocha Mendes,Eliane Terezinha, Simões,Manuel de Jesus, Alves Mora,Oswaldo, Martins Oliveira-Filho,Ricardo, Kulay Jr.,Luiz
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Sociedad Chilena de Anatomía 2000
Online Access:	http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-98682000000200007
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