BACKGROUND The channel-forming antimicrobial peptide, magainin-2-amide, interacts preferentially with negatively charged, non cholesterol-containing membranes, including those of sperm, oocytes and cells of pre-implantation embryos. Cyclodextrin and albumin remove membrane cholesterol and together with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are potential enhancers of embryotoxicity. METHODS Two-cell murine...

Embryotoxic factors existing in maternal sera may influence their effects via specific binding to, or alteration of cell surface molecules in the conceptus. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of sera from women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) on cell surface glycoconjugates of the early conceptus. Four cell stage embryos were cultured in medium supplemente...

OBJECTIVE Polymyxin B (PB) is a naturally occurring cationic cyclic decapeptide which is highly bactericidal to Gram-negative bacteria. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PB on the viability of developing embryos during pregnancy and to validate its protective effect on the embryotoxic effect of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS A...

The teratogenicity of chloroquine (CQ) has been hypothesized to result from its effects on lysosomal function, specifically the ability of the visceral yolk sac (VYS) to capture and degrade external macromolecules. Using the rat whole embryo culture system, we evaluated the ability of CQ to accumulate in conceptual tissues and its effects on aspects of VYS function known to be important in the ...

Use of herbal remedies in pregnancy may be deleterious to both mother and fetus. Against this background, aqueous and ethanol root bark extracts of Salacia lehmbachii, widely used herbal remedies for treatment of malaria in some localities were evaluated for embryotoxicity and teratogenicity in albino rats. One hundred and five pregnant rats weighing 170-180g were assigned 7 groups (n=15), labe...