Potential risks of maternal administration of Mucophylline on the pups of albino rats during lactation

Abstract The present study was undertaken to evaluate the potential risks of the mucolytic and broncholytic drug, Theophylline derivatives (Mucophylline) maternally administered on the pups. The nursing rats orally administered from 1st postpartum day (PPD) to 21th PPD with two different doses 30.83 mg/kg (low dose) and 66.61 mg/kg (Human equivalent dose (HED)). On the 21th PPD, the postnatal developmental signs, skeletal malformation and the histopathology of neonatal liver, kidney and brain were examined. Our results showed that Mucophylline induced a significant reduction in the neonatal weight and length, delayed, weak and incomplete ossification, wavy ribs and the neonatal liver revealed histopathological changes, pyknotic hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolization, dilated sinusoid and necrotic area. Kidney revealed alternation changes, enlargement of the glomerulus, renal tubules degeneration and lymphatic infiltration. Brain (cerebral cortex and cerebellum) showed neurodegenerative changes, vacuolization of neuropil, congested and dilated blood vessel and dark stain neurons. Our results showed that the activities of non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic (GST, CAT) antioxidants were insignificantly decrease in both neonatal brain and liver tissues of rats administered with 30.83 mg/kg and 61.66 mg/kg of Mucophylline and insignificant increase in MDA levels in both neonatal brain and liver tissues. However, significant reduction (P ≤ 0.05) in the content of GR was recorded in neonatal brain tissue of rats administered with 30.83 mg/kg and 61.66 mg/kg of Mucophylline during lactation period in comparison with control. These support and proof the potential risks of the maternal administration of Mucophylline on pups.