Evaluation of embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity of Clindamycin phosphate under normal and elevated levels of serum Hydrogen sulfide in rats

Widespread use of antibiotics in clinical practice leads to the development of antibiotic resistance and encourages the search for new ways of modulation of their therapeutic effect. One of the potentially successful modulators may be Hydrogen sulfide, but the mechanisms of its action require careful studies, including toxicological. The aim of the study was to study the effect of Hydrogen sulfide levels on the embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity of oral and intravaginal Clindamycin phosphate administration. The experimental study was performed on 60 pregnant female rats, which were divided into 6 experimental groups: group 1 – control group; group 2 – high level of serum Hydrogen sulfide; group 3 – Clindamycin phosphate intravaginally; group 4 – Clindamycin phosphate intravaginally with high level of serum Hydrogen sulfide; group 5 – Clindamycin phosphate orally; group 6 – Clindamycin phosphate orally with high level of serum Hydrogen sulfide. We studied the dynamics of weight gain in pregnant rats, the number of corpora lutea, the number of implantation sites in the uterus, the number of live and dead fetuses, preimplantation and postimplantation mortality, as well as the dynamics of body weight gain and mental development of offspring. Artificially increasing the serum level of Hydrogen sulfide in pregnant rats led to an increase in maternal weight gain, an increase in the weight and cranio-caudal size of embryos, as well as a decrease in the number of resorbed fetuses and postimplantation mortality. The insignificant toxic effect of high doses of oral Clindamycin phosphate was leveled in the group with elevated indices of serum Hydrogen sulfide. Rats born to females with elevated levels of serum Hydrogen sulfide showed faster rates of weight gain and normal mental development according to the “open field” test.