Study of Some Fetal Parameters and Skeletal Distortions in Fetuses and Neonates of Pregnant Albino Rats Treated with the Preservative Sodium Nitrite

Abstract

This experiment was carried out in the animal house of the College of Science at the University of Kufa from 15/11/2021 to 15/5/2022 for the purpose of studying the harmful effects of the preservative sodium nitrite on some fetal parameters during 16 days and 20 day of pregnancy and skeletal distortions in fetuses for a pregnancy two periods of 16 days and 20 days and neonates after the birth respectively of pregnant female rats that were treated orally with sodium nitrite from the first day of pregnancy by a rats administeration device and the administeration was daily as a single dose , (45) pregnant female albino rats of the type Rattns rattus (Sprague Dawley (with weights were between (200 – 230) g and ages between (11-12) weeks. 45 pregnant rats were divided into3 main groups and each group. contained 15 pregnant females, the first group was treated with physiological salt solution and was as a control group, while the second group was given sodium nitrite at a concentration of 10 mg/kg of body weight, while the third group was given sodium nitrite at a concentration of 15 mg/kg from body weight, each group of the main groups was divided into 3 sub-groups each of which included 5 pregnant rats, pregnant female rats were administered in all groups from the first day of pregnancy with a single dose daily by gastric administeration device, the pregnant rats were dissected on the 16th and 20th days of pregnancy and the numbers of total, live, absorbed and dead fetuses were calculated, the bodies of the fetuses were also cleared for 16 days and 20 days of pregnancy and the neonates after birth to show their skeletons. The results of the study showed that the number of total and live fetuses decreased significantly (P≤ 0.05), while the numbers of absorbed and dead fetuses increased significantly (P≤ 0.05)in the groups of pregnant female rats treated with sodium nitrite at two concentrations (10, 15 mg/kg body weight) respectively during pregnancy for 16 days and 20 days compared with the numbers of total, live, absorbed and dead fetuses in the control group during 16 days and 20 days of pregnancy and there were significant differences (P≤ 0.05)in the number of total, live, absorbed and dead fetuses between the two groups treated with sodium nitrite when comparing between the two groups. The results also showed the occurrence of various skeletal deformations in fetuses such as loss of caudal vertebrae, deformations of skull bones and loss of a number of phalanges in fetuses for 16 and 20 days respectively , the neonates also suffered from atrophy in the skeleton causing short body length, loss of some caudal vertebrae and deformities in the pelvic bones, skull, and phalanges of phalanges of the upper and lower extremities in groups of pregnant rats treated with sodium nitrite at a concentration of 10 mg / kg of body weight and these skeletal abnormalities were increased in fetuses during 16 days and 20 days of pregnancy and neonates after birth of pregnant rats treated with sodium nitrite at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body weight compared to the skeletons of fetuses during (16 ,20) days of pregnancy and neonates after birth respectively. Conclusion: We can conclude from the current study that the preservative sodium nitrite stimulated harmful effects on fetal parameters during pregnancy for a period of 16 days and 20 days by increasing the number of absorbed and dead fetuses and reducing the number of total and live fetuses, as well as these preservative stimulated various structural abnormalities in fetuses during pregnancy for 16 days and 20 days and in neonates after the birth and these pathological effects were increased by the increase in the concentration of sodium nitrite and the duration of the administration.