Protection of rat fetuses by quercetin against caffeine- induced cleft palate

Abstract

Caffeine at high doses is a known rodent teratogen and it induces limb malformations along with cleft palate in various strains of rats and mice. The teratogenic effects of some drugs can be prevented by the application of antioxidant drugs and stimulation of the maternal immune system. Also, there are some evidence that quercetin is an antioxidant. Therefore, in this study, the prophylactic effect of quercetin on teratogenic effects of caffeine was evaluated. This study was performed on 26 pregnant rats that were divided into four groups. Control group received normal saline and test groups received caffeine (80 mg/kg), caffeine (80 mg/kg) plus quercetin (75 mg/kg), and quercetin (10 mg/kg), intraperitoneally at 9 to 11th days of gestation, respectively. Fetuses were collected at the 20th day of gestation and after determination of weight and length; they were stained by Alizarin red - Alcian blue method. Cleft palate incidence was 33.33% in fetuses of rats that received only caffeine and incidence was 1.49% in the group that received caffeine plus quercetin (75 mg/kg). The means of weight and length of fetuses from rat that received quercetin were significantly greater than those that received only caffeine. It is concluded that quercetin decreased cleft palate induced by caffeine, but this subject needs more detailed evaluation. Key words: Caffeine, quercetin, pregnancy, cleft palate, teratogenicity, fetus, rat.