Placental and fetal contraindications of dexamethasone administration to pregnant rats.
Dexamethasone (DEXA) given to pregnant rats for either the last 3 or 6 days of gestation lowered placental, fetal body and adrenal weights. Histologically, DEXA-treated placentas appeared smaller than controls and showed signs of necrosis and pyknosis. Treated animals that were permitted to carry their litters to term did not deliver naturally, and most of their fetuses were dead when excised 1 day postmaturely.
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats
D003907:Dexamethasone