[Experimental study of the effect of rifampicin on the embryogenesis of white rats]

The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of rifampicin were studied on Wistar albino rats exposed to the antibiotic inhalations during the whole period of gravidity. It was found that in the concentrations used (6.1 +/- 0.4 and 0.81 +/- 0.08 mg/m3) the antibiotic did not induce any increase in the rate of the fetus intrauterine death or any pronounced anomaly in the fetus development. Still, at higher concentrations there was a decrease in the anthropometric characteristics of the fetus, higher incidence of hemoperitoneum and disorders in liver and renal functions of the 2-month-old progeny. The damaging effect of rifampicin on the fetus should be considered as mediated since it was observed in the presence of disorders in the mother's body (changes in liver and renal function, suppressed phagocytosis).