Repeated administration of centhaquin to pregnant rats did not affect postnatal development and expression of endothelin receptors in the brain, heart or kidney of pups.

The effect of repeated administration of centhaquin to pregnant rats on postnatal development, and expression of ETA and ETB receptors was determined. Pregnant rats were treated daily with either saline or centhaquin for 2 weeks. Male rat pups were sacrificed on day 1, 7, 14 and 28 of birth. Brain, kidney and heart were removed to study the expression of ETA and ETB receptor protein levels. Body weight of pregnant rats increased steadily in both vehicle and centhaquin groups. Expression of ETA receptors in the heart and kidney was similar in vehicle and centhaquin treated postpartum rats, but was significantly increased in the brain of centhaquin treated postpartum rats. No change in expression of ETB receptors was observed. In postnatal rats, mean body weight and weights of the brain, kidney and heart increased proportionally with advancing age and were similar in vehicle and centhaquin groups. The expression of ETA receptors in the brain, heart and kidneys was similar in vehicle and centhaquin groups. ETB receptor expression significantly (p<0.001) decreased by 72% and 70% on day 28 compared to rats of age 1, 7 and 14 days in control and centhaquin groups, respectively. Centhaquin treated rats showed similar expression of ETA and ETB receptors compared to vehicle treatment. This study suggests that repeated administration of centhaquin was well tolerated by pregnant rats that gave birth to normal pups. Centhaquin did not affect postnatal development of rats and had similar expression of ETA and ETB receptors compared to control pups.