Investigating the Histopathological Changes in Multiple Fetal Tissues Exposed In-Utero to Zidovudine

Objective: Zidovudine, the first antiretroviral drug is used to prevent vertical transmission of HIV
infection. Without any adequate proof of its safety to fetus, the drug was administered to pregnant
women. The present experiment aims to study at the light microscopic level, the effect of zidovudine
in fetus exposed in-utero to the drug.
Materials and Methods: Sixty Swiss mice were divided into two groups of control (n=20) and
experimental (n=40). A dose of 50 mg/kg/day was administered orally to experimental group and an
equivalent amount of normal saline to control group. Drug was administered from day 8 to day 16 of
gestation and on day 19 the animal was sacrificed. Fetus collected after laparotomy were fixed in 10%
neutral formalin and then subjected to light microscopic study to assess the histopathological
changes. H&E stained sections of liver, lung, kidney, brain and maternal ovary was analysed.
Results: Fatty degeneration of liver, degenerative changes in kidney section, dilatation of alveoli with
thinning of alveolar wall, microcystic degeneration in cerebral cortex was observed. The maternal
ovary of experimental group had small corpus luteum.
Conclusion: We observed myriad histopathological changes in multiple fetal tissues of mice which
although could not be compared in to with the previous works done by numerous researchers,
however, our result can project a composite picture of the side effect of ZDV affecting almost all
tissues of the body. We would suggest an electron microscopic study of the same to confirm the ill
effect of the drug in a more detail way in different species. Lastly, the gravity of the toxic effect of ZDV
in children exposed perinatally to ZDV can be proven in years to come as the children born to mothers
exposed to ZDV could be all below 20 years since it was recommended for use in 1994 only.