Teratogenic Effects of Halofantrine on Sprague–Dawley Rat Foetuses

Abstract

:  This study was designed to examine the teratogenic effects of Halofantrine, an anti-malarial drug, on the foetuses of Sprague–Dawley rats.  Groups of female rats in pro-estrous were mated overnight with fertile males of the same stock.  Two experimental groups of 15 female pregnant rats in each group were given oral Halofantrine.

      The first group received 24mg/kg/day of the drug on 13th, 14th and 15th day of gestation while the second group received 48mg/kg/day of the same drug on 13th, 14th and 15th day of gestation. The results showed foetuses with morphological anomalies.  These include resorption of foetuses, and growth retardation evidenced by significant decrease (P < 0.05) in foetal weight, crown-rump length, tail length and placenta weight in the two experimental groups compared with the control.

      Halofantrine is embryotoxic in rats and should be taken with caution in pregnancy.