Lymphatic system of mice born from mothers treated with ampicillin or cloxacillin during gestation

Ampicillin, an antibiotic, widely used for combating bacterial infections exerts great influence on cells of the immune system of mouse and man. We have studied the effect of ampicillin and cloxacillin treatment of mice in the final week of pregnancy on the development of the lymphatic system of their offsprings. The mice born from antibiotic or saline treated mothers were examined 30 days after delivery. The examination of relative organ weight, cellularity and histopathological picture of lymphatic system (thymus, spleen and lymph nodes) and some other organs was performed. In the group of mice from ampicillin treated mothers we have found decreased relative weight of thymus and spleen and increased weight of lymph nodes with increased cellularity in thymus and lymph nodes. In the group of mice from cloxacillin treated mothers increased cellularity of thymus and lymph nodes was found. The histopathological study of lymphatic organs structure did not reveal any specific changes but the symptoms of focal degeneration and fat necrosis were found in livers of mice born from ampicillin treated mothers. Moreover, in mice born from antibiotic treated mothers the significant lymphocytosis in the peripheral blood was assessed. It was accompanied by an increase of granulocyte number in offsprings from ampicillin treated mothers and increase of monocyte number in those of cloxacillin treated. In conclusion, it could be suggested that ampicillin treatment during pregnancy would exert some effect on the development of lymphopoietic system of fetuses.