The effect of prenatal exposure of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug on the optic nerve of female rats: a stereological, histological, and electron microscopic study

AbstractObjective: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can have adverse effects for in both mother and fetus following administration during the prenatal period. If given during pregnancy, diclofenac sodium (DS), an NSAID, is given during the pregnancy, may also affect the development of the central nervous system (CNS) or related structures.Methods: Pregnant rats were separated into pure control (PG), saline (SG) and diclofenac groups (DG). A daily dose of 1 mg/kg of DS and 1 mL/kg saline was injected intraperitoneally to the DG and SG groups, respectively, from the 5th gestation day for a 15 day of period; the PG group received no treatment. After spontaneous delivery, female offspring were obtained from all groups. After the 20th week of postnatal life, the animals (n = 6 for each group) were perfused and the right optic nerves were resected. Sections were subjected to stereological and histological analysis.Results: There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) between PG, SG and DG grou...