Some pregnancy-related effects of artemether in laboratory animals

• Published in: Pharmacology Vol. 77; no. 4; p. 166
• Main Authors: Ejiofor, Janet I, Kwanashie, Helen O, Anuka, Joseph A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-2006
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Laboratory; Antimalarials - administration & dosage; Antimalarials - pharmacology; Artemisinins - administration & dosage; Artemisinins - pharmacology; Birth Weight - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical - methods; Embryonic Development - drug effects; Estrous Cycle - drug effects; Estrous Cycle - physiology; Female; Fertilization - drug effects; Guinea Pigs; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Litter Size - drug effects; Male; Myometrium - drug effects; Myometrium - pathology; Oxytocin - antagonists & inhibitors; Oxytocin - pharmacology; Pregnancy; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Uterine Contraction - drug effects
• ISSN: 0031-7012
• DOI: 10.1159/000094521

Artemether, highly effective in multi-drug-resistant malaria is not routinely available for use in pregnancy due to the lack of adequate research data in animals and man. This study was therefore aimed at investigating some pregnancy-related effects of artemether. Artemether (1.5, 7.5 and 15 mg/kg i.p. daily for 7 days) did not produce changes in rat oestrous cycle. The drug did not prevent or prolong the rate of conception or parturition, cause pre-term delivery and affect litter size. Birth weight and growth rate of pups from artemether-pretreated dams were within the normal range. Artemether (48-480 microg/ml) had no agonist effect on the isolated uterine smooth muscles of both non-pregnant and pregnant rats and guinea pigs. However, the drug (24- 240 microg/ml) reduced oxytocin-induced contraction of uterine tissues concentration-dependently, particularly in pregnant uteri.