Behavioural Teratogenic Effect of Cimetidine on the Offspring’s of Albino Rats

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine the Behovioural teratogenic effects of cimetidine on the offspring’s of Albino Rats. It was designed to test if cimetidine will have effect on offspring born to mothers who took cimetidine during gestation period. Sample of this study comprises of 3 pregnant albino rats which were randomly assigned into three (3) groups, grove A B and C. group A is the control group that did not receive any treatment while group B and C were the experimental group that received the experimental treatment. The experimental group B was given 2ml of cimetidine injection with cannula  two times daily i.e.in the morning and in the evening. The experimental group C was given 2ml of cimetidine injection with a cannula daily i.e. 2ml of cimetidine injection in the morning and  in the evening throughout their gestation period. 19 pups littered by the 3 female albino rats of both the control group and experimental groups were also used as the subject in the study. Three hypothesis were formulated and tested in this study, Hypothesis one was  there will be a significant difference between the offspring’s of albino rats who were injected with cimetidine to those born to mothers who were not injected with cimetidine on a T-maze test. This was confirmed [DF (2,9)=33.96,P<.01]. Hypothesis two, was that offspring’s of albino rats who were injected with cimetidine during gestation will significantly perform low on the performance ability test (classical maze test) than those born to mother who were not injected was also tasted and confirmed [DF (2,9)=14/15, P<. 01]. The third hypothesis was that offspring’s born to albino rats who were injected with cimetidine during gestation will have a significant low birth weight than those offspring’s of mother who were not injected with cimetidine during gestation [DF (2,9) = 13.02, P< .01]. Data was analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).  We conclude that cimetidine intake during pregnancy will have effects on the memory, performance ability  and birth weight of children. We therefore recommend that women who used cimetidine should stay away from it’s uses during pregnancy, because it is a teratogenic agent and could cause harm or impairment to their offspring’s.