title: Genotoxic effect of tocolytic drug ritodrine in combination with smoking during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tocolytic drugs are used widely in order to prevent preterm birth. Ritodrine, is the only food and drug administration (FDA) approved drug for tocolytic use. We estimated the cytogenetic effect of ritodrine administered as maternal therapy, alone or in combination with smoking, in women and their neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Lymphocyte and fibroblasts cultures were evaluated and three indices were analyzed; sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), proliferation rate index (PRI) and mitotic index (MI) as well as average generation time (AGT) and population doubling time (PDT). Campothacin (CPT-11) was used as a positive control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Administration of ritodrine up to a month revealed significant reduction of SCEs/cell in neonates in the presence or absence of the mutagenic agent. A statistical significant increase on SCEs, for mothers and neonates, was noticed in neonate's lymphocytes when tocolytic therapy was over a month. Ritodrine revealed a cytoprotective action against smoking when the two factors were combined, but the synergistic action of ritodrine with smoking increased genotoxicity, cytostaticity and cytotoxicity of neonates after long administration (1-3 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time-depended genotoxic, cytostatic and cytotoxic action of ritodrine alone or in combination with smoking suggests that its administration should not exceed the time period of a month.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Genetics , Laboratory of Genetics, Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece .
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kareli
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiotherapy-Oncology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece .
authors.forename: Stamatia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pouliliou
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece , and.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liberis
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece , and.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nikas
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece , and.
authors.forename: Afrodite
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Psillaki
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece , and.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kontomanolis
authors.affiliation: d Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology-IVF Medical School , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece.
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolettos
authors.affiliation: c Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece , and.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galazios
authors.affiliation: a Department of Genetics , Laboratory of Genetics, Demokrition University of Thrace , Alexandroupolis , Greece .
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lialiaris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012312:Ritodrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D012312:Ritodrine
keywords: Cytotoxicity; cytostaticity; fibroblasts; genotoxicity; lymphocytes