Poster Presenter

Teratogenic and Cytogenetic Effects of Ivermectin and its Interaction with P-glycoprotein Inhibitor
Ibrahim M. El-Ashmawy, Abeer F. El-Nahas, Aida E. Bayad

Administration of permeability-glycoprotein (Pgp) inhibitors can modefiy the pharmacological properties or induce toxic effects of Pgp substrats. Pgp is linked to the integrity of blood-placental barrier and a partial blockage of Pgp could be responsible for a new drug distribution in the organism with possible increase of drug rates in organ behind this barrier. The effects of administration of ivermectin (anthelmentic drug, Pgp substrates), either alone or simultaneously with verapamil (Pgp inhibitor) on fetal development and cytogenetic evaluation of mitotic chromosomes in dam and fetus were investigated in rats. The result revealed that administration of ivermectin and verapamil at 6th through 15th day of gestation not significantly altered fetal development. While, coadministrationnof ivermectin and verapamil clearly disturbed fetal development as indicated from abnormal maternofetal attachement and a significant decrease in fetal weights numbers. Furthermore, coadministration of both drugs induced a significant increase in resorption sites, post-implantation loss and external, visceral and skeletal abnormalities. We concluded that ivermectin at therapeutic dose alone has no harmful effects on fetal development but when taken with Pgp inhibitor (verapamil) induced a hazard effects.