Effect of the Prenatal Exposure of Khat on the Skeleton of Developing Rabbit Embryo: Morphometric and Gross...

Background: Khat leaves are chewed by many people worldwide, mainly in Africa and the southwest Arabian peninsula. Materials and methods: 27 apparently healthy adult New Zealand rabbits (3 males & 24 females) of 2.5 ± 0.5 kg body weight were used in this work. The animals were divided into 4 groups (control, low, medium and high doses groups). The khat extract was administered orally during (8th -18th) day of gestation. The mothers were sacrificed on the 29th day of gestation. The skeletons of the fetuses were stained with Alizarin Red S and Alcian Blue. Results: Skeletal examination of the fetuses of treated dams showed several types of malformations and variations in all treated groups such as unossified phalanges, deformed sternum, completely unossified vertebral lamina and opened anterior and posterior fontanelles, and reduced length of limb long bones. Conclusion: These findings support the teratogenic effect of the khat on the developing rabbit fetus.