Effects of maternal administration of aluminum chloride on the development of the skeletal system of albino rat fetuses - protective role of saffron

SUMMARY Aluminum is widely used in food packaging and additives. Aluminum chloride (AlCl3) was known to cause maternal toxicity and embryolethality. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant effects of saffron. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of maternal administration of aluminum chloride during the period of embryogenesis on the development of the skeletal system of albino rat fetuses and the protective role of saffron. Twenty four virgin female albino rats were used throughout this study. One male rat was introduced into a cage with two females for mating. Once the pregnancy was confirmed, pregnant rats were divided into the following groups: Control, AlCl3 treated (200 mg/ kg) and AlCl3+S treated (AlCl3 200 mg/kg and saffron 200 mg/kg in water extract). Rats received treatments daily from the 6th to 15th day of gestation intragastrically and sacrificed on the 20 th day. The fetuses were obtained through Caesarian section, stained with Alizarin red and examined for skeletal development. AlCl3 treated rats showed toxic manifestations and decreased weight gain and their fetuses revealed increased embryolethality and a higher number of bones showed delayed ossification. AlCl3 +S treated animals revealed improvement in maternal weight gain, embryolethality and bone ossification. We conclud that AlCl3 induces delay in bone development, and saffron ameliorates its effects.

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