Effects of Dimenhydrinate and Ondansetron Used in Pregnant Rats on Postnatal Morphometric Development

Objective: To determine the effects of dimenhydrinate (DMH) and ondansetron, used as antiemetics during pregnancy, on the length of gestation, maternal weight gain during gestation and postnatal morphometric parameters of pups.Material and Methods: Thirty female Wistar albino rats were used in the study. Three groups comprising 10 rats each were studied: Group 1: control group; Group 2: DMH group; and Group 3: ondansetron group. Rats were impregnated and administered 115 mg/kg/day intramuscular, DMH group, or 10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneal, ondansetron group. The parameters pertaining to the cranium, thorax and limbs were measured between newborn and adulthood.Results: The increase in mean morphometric parameters during the postnatal period in the DMH group was less than the control group,whereas that in the ondansetron group exceeded the controls (p<0.05). Moreover, when data obtained between weeks 7 and 11 were analyzed for males and females separately, morphometric parameters increased at a slower rate in the DMH than the control group and morphometric parameters increased at a higher rate in the ondansetron than the control group in either sex (p<0.05). Conclusion: DMH and ondansetron used during gestation affect weight gain during gestation, and morphometric development of pups during newborn and lactation periods and adulthood

Morphometric Development of Sphincter of Oddi in Human Fetuses During Fetal Period: Microscopic Study

Objective: In this study, morphometric developments of the sphincter of Oddi in human fetuses were observed. Material and Methods: We observed 113 human fetuses consisting of 67 male and 46 female subjects, whose ages varied between 14 to 40 weeks who showed no signs of any pathology or anomaly externally. The common external measurements of fetuses were carried out, followed by abdominal dissection to determine where the sphincters of Oddi were localized within the duodenum and pancreas. Histological specimens of tissue samples were gathered from the inner wall of the duodenum where it was assumed that the sphincters of Oddi had been localized. The parameters of total external diameters, lumen diameters, wall thickness, diameters of ductus choledochus and ductus pancreaticus, and the distance between these two structures, which are also known as the origins of the sphincter of Oddi, were measured by using a light microscope. The standard deviations of the measurements were calculated for each gestational week and trimester. Results: The calculations suggested that there were statistically significant correlations between gestational age and all of the other parameters with the exception of the ductus choledochus (p0.05).Conclusion: The data we collected in our study were considered as useful for the evaluation of the development of the sphincter of Oddi area and fetal stage