Preventive Role of Folic Acid in Artemether- Induced Teratogenicity on Fetal Heart in Albino Mice

Abstract

Objective: To determine the role of folic acid in preventing the adverse effects of artemether, on fetal heart in Albino mice.
Methods: Eighteen pregnant Albino mice were randomly divided into three groups A, B and C each consisting of six mice. The control group A was given intramuscular injection of solvent Arachis oil 10.7mg/kg, group B was given intramuscular injection of artemether 10.7mg/kg and group C was given intramuscular injection of artemether, 10.7mg/kg and folic acid 4.93 mg/kg, dissolved in 0.1 ml. of distilled water orally, from 6th to 10th day of pregnancy. On 18th gestational day, the mice were sacrificed, dissected to deliver the fetuses; the heart of each fetus was isolated and fixed in 10% formalin. The macroscopic features and cardiac weight were noted. Then it is processed in a usual way for histological examination with the light microscope after H&E staining, using X4, X10 and X40 objectives. The sections were evaluated for any histological changes and septal defects. For statistical analysis, SPSS version 18 was used.
Results: Gross examination of the heart revealed no structural malformation. Post-Hoc Tukey's test indicated statistically significant difference in mean cardiac weight between groups A and B (p=<0.001), groups B and C (p=<0.001) and between groups A and C (p=<0.001). No atrial and ventricular septal defects observed. Histological examination showed myocardial development in current study was delayed in groups B and C, showing presence of mesenchymal cells.
Conclusions: Folic acid prevented the adverse effects of artemether on the development of heart.