Transplacental Transfer of Primaquine and Neurobehavioral Development of Prenatally Exposed Rats
Table 3
Somatic and neurodevelopmental landmarks in the offspring of female rats treated orally with primaquine during pregnancy (GD 0–21).
Treatment in pregnancy
Control (6 ml.kg·bw−1·d−1)
Primaquine (20 mg.kg·bw−1·d−1)
Statistical analysis+
Examined litters (N)
11
11
—
Physical landmarks
Ear unfolding
3 (3–4)
3 (2–5)
= 0.99
Fur development
8 (6–8)
7 (6–9)
= 0.99
Incisor eruption
11 (10–14)
11 (9–13)
= 0.62
Eye opening
16 (14–17)
15 (14–19)
= 0.99
Descent of testes
17 (15–19)
18 (15–20)
= 0.21
Vaginal opening
34 (27–37)
35 (29–41)
= 0.24
Preputial separation
37 (31–41)
35 (33–40)
= 0.24
Reflex maturation
Surface righting
4 (3–7)
3.5 (3–7)
= 0.02
Cliff avoidance
8 (3–13)
9 (4–13)
= 0.22
Negative geotaxis
9 (5–13)
9 (4–13)
= 0.22
Palmar grasp#
9 (3–12)
8 (6–12)
= 0.28
Auditory startle
13 (12–14)
13 (12–16)
= 0.31
Free-fall righting
16 (16–22)
19 (16–21)
= 0.93
Data are median and range (minimum-maximum) of the day on which landmarks appeared or reflexes were acquired. +Mann-Whitney U test. #Loss of response. Palmar grasp was the only reflex that was present at birth and disappeared with postnatal maturation. The litter was the unit of statistical analysis. ns: nonsignificant ().
