The effects of chlorodiazepoxide on the Bax gene expression in CA1 pyramidal cells of the newborn rat hippocampus

Background: Most drugs used by pregnant women can pass through the placenta and expose embryos and developing embryos to teratogenic effects. Due to the increased cellular damage of Bax gene expression, the effect of cholorodiazepoxide use during pregnancy on Bax gene expression in the hippocampus of neonatal rats was investigated. Materials and methods: After confirmation of pregnancy in Wistar female rats, intraperitoneal injection of chlordiazepoxide was administered at a dose of 10 mg/ kg daily for 21 days in the experimental group. Two weeks after birth, the infant's brain was removed from the skull. After isolating the CA1 region of the neonatal hippocampus, the expression of the Bax proapoptotic gene was examined and compared with the control and carrier group (saline). Results: The level of gene expression was analyzed and propoptotic Bax gene showed significant increase in experimental group compared to control group. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the administration of chlorodiazepoxide during pregnancy can cause neuronal damage in the hippocampus of Wistar rats.