&quot;Histological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Prenatal Ciprofloxacin Exposure on Neonatal Rat Liver and the Potential Protective Role of Alpha-Lipoic Acid&quot;

Elsheikh, Sayed Fouad; Desouky, Mohamed Ahmed; Abdelmoghny, Esraa Hassan; Atta, Medhat

doi:10.21608/mjmr.2025.397352.1998

"Histological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of the Effects of Prenatal Ciprofloxacin Exposure on Neonatal Rat Liver and the Potential Protective Role of Alpha-Lipoic Acid"

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Human Anatomy and Embryology Department, Minia University, Minia

² Anatomy and Embryology department Faculty of medicine Minia university

³ Anatomty and embryology department, faculty of medicine ,minia university,minia,Egypt

⁴ Assistant professor of Anatomy and Embryology Department Faculty of Medicine, Minia University

10.21608/mjmr.2025.397352.1998

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.

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