Defining the susceptible period of developmental toxicity for the AT₁‐selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist Losartan in rats

Abstract

Previous developmental and reproductive toxicity studies conducted in rats with Losartan, a potent AT1 subtype selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist, noted treatment-related effects on the pups of dams treated beyond the second trimester through lactation, as demonstrated by increases in pre- and postweaning pup deaths and decreased pup body weights [Spence et al. (1995) Teratology 51:000-000]. The studies presented here were designed to define the critical period for the induction of neonatal toxicity and to examine the effects of Losartan on kidney development when the drug is administered to the dam beyond the second trimester through lactation. In a developmental toxicity study with postweaning evaluation, pregnant rats were administered 5, 20, and 100 mg Losartan/kg/day on gestation days 6 through 15 (GD 6-15). There were no adverse effects on the F1 generation as assessed by mortality, clinical signs, weight gain, external examinations, developmental signs, behavioral tests, and gross or microscopic examination of the kidney. In a fostering/cross-fostering study, pregnant rats were administered 100 mg Losartan/kg/day on GD 15 through lactation day 20 (LD 20). Following delivery, pups from dams treated with Losartan were fostered to control dams, pups from control dams were fostered to Losartan-treated dams, and pups were also fostered to dams within the same group. Maternal exposure to Losartan during lactation increased the incidence of pup deaths on postnatal days 1-3 (PND 1-3), caused decreased pup weights on PND 7, and decreased performance in the auditory startle test in females and increased performance on the second swim maze test in males, relative to controls. Maternal exposure to Losartan during gestation was associated with decreased pup weight on PND 21 and effects observed on male performance in the swim maze test. Treatment during gestation was also associated with decreased pup cardiac weight as well as drug-induced histopathological changes of the kidneys from F1 pups, including medial hypertrophy of intracortical arterioles and dilatation of the renal pelvis. While the cardiac and renal vascular effects disappeared with time, significant renal lesions were still evident by PND 90. In a late-gestation/lactation study with renal evaluation, pregnant rats were administered 0.5, 1.0, 5.0, 20, and 100 mg Losartan/kg/day on GD 15-LD 20. Maternal toxicity was evident as decreased body weight gain in the 100 mg Losartan/kg/day group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of oxidative stress in renal injury induced in rats by losartan exposure during lactation

“…We selected this dose of losartan based on previous studies that showed developmental toxicity was evident in the newborns from mothers that received doses ≥ 100 mg/kg/day. 25,26 At this dose, losartan was detected in breast milk in a concentration close to 50% of the maternal serum in 75% of dams. The combination of losartan with tempol was based on a study by Dobrian et al 27 Tempol is a small molecule that is able to cross biological membranes, and the treatment of rats with this compound was able to decrease both cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS production.…”

Roles of mitogen-activated protein kinases and angiotensin II in renal development

“…Spence et al (34,35) have shown in experimental studies that maternal treatment with losartan during late gestation and lactation is associated with lower pup body weights and higher pup mortality rates during the preweaning/postweaning periods, as well as irreversible histopathologic renal abnormalities in the F1 generation. Morphological renal findings, such as dilation of the renal pelvis, edema of the renal papilla, medial hypertrophy of intracortical arterioles, chronic renal inflammation, and irregular scarring of the renal parenchyma, have been described in rats.…”

Postnatal Renal Abnormalities in Rats Exposed to Losartan during Lactation

“…Losartan was administered daily in drinking water during lactation. The dose was based on previous work [20] indicating that developmental toxicity was evident in newborns from dams that received doses ≥100 mg/kg/day. Losartan was detected in the milk of dams that received 100 mg/kg/day of this drug [21].…”