FTIR-Microspectroscopy Detection of Metronidazole Teratogenic Effects on Mice Fetus

Metronidazole is used to treat trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginosis, and other diseases. There are controversy aspects about its teratogenicity. A teratogenic agent can alter morphology or subsequent function of the fetus. The aim of this study was to examine an alternative method for the recognition of the mechanism or the bimolecular potential changes in mice fetus caused by Metronidazole using FTIR micro spectroscopy. The mice were injected with metronidazole (60mg/kg) on gestation day 9. Fetuses were dissected on day 15 of gestation and morphological and histological studies on the fetus were carried out. Serial sectioning (10µm) of normal and metronidazole-treated brains and livers were used for FTIR measurement in the wave number region of 600- 3600 cm-1.The results showed that there were some variations between the fetus of normal and treated brain and liver. The band intensities in fetus brain and liver of test animals were reduced and shifted at 707 cm-1, 1155 cm-1, 1054 cm-1,, 1256 cm-1 and 1219 cm-1, 1453 cm-1 and 1525 cm-1, 1622 cm-1, 1645 cm-1 and 2944 cm-1,while the band intensities were increased and shifted at 879 cm-1, 810 cm-1, 1223 cm-1, 1256 cm-1 1360 cm-1, 1723 cm-1. It was concluded that most of variations in brain and liver of Metronidazole treated fetuses are in amid bands, nucleic acid and carbohydrate related bands. Based on these findings FTIR spectroscopy can be a useful tool for bio diagnostic.