Volume 36, Issue 2 (6-2025)                   Studies in Medical Sciences 2025, 36(2): 131-136 | Back to browse issues page


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Fatahi F, Morovati Sharif Abad M, Salehi E, Dehestani Ardakani M, Rezaei-Golmisheh A. Effect of Paxlovid on Liver Morphogenesis in Animal Model Embryo (Rat). Studies in Medical Sciences 2025; 36 (2) :131-136
URL: http://umj.umsu.ac.ir/article-1-6432-en.html
Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran , mmorovati@ardakan.ac.ir
Abstract:   (241 Views)
Background The antiviral drug Paxlovid has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in adult patients. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of Paxlovid administration on liver morphogenesis in rat embryos.
Methods Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group): a control group (vehicle), experimental group one (Paxlovid 60 and 100 mg/kg), experimental group two (Paxlovid 200 and 300 mg/kg), and experimental group three (Paxlovid 1000 mg/kg). The Animals were treated daily via oral gavage. Maternal body weight was recorded on gestational days seven, 14, and 21. On gestational day 17, blood samples were collected from five animals in each group at five different time points. Paxlovid concentrations in the serum samples were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography.
Results The results showed no structural changes in liver tissue. However, the maternal body weight on day 21 of pregnancy was significantly lower in experimental group one compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Fetal weight in all three experimental groups was significantly reduced compared with the control group. In addition, crown–rump length and abdominal circumference in experimental groups one and two were significantly decreased compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Measurement of systemic drug concentration indicated that experimental group two had the highest level of drug absorption, while experimental group three showed the lowest absorption.
Conclusion Overall, our findings indicate that although Paxlovid, at the investigated doses, may affect maternal weight and fetal growth parameters, it does not induce morphological or histological abnormalities in the fetal rat liver.
 
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: جنین شناسی

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