Pathological investigation on pre-natal use of Phenobarbital in the rat nervous and muscular system

Phenobarbital,a barbiturate,is used as an asleep aid and in the treatment of certain types of seizure and anxiety. the placenta offers no significant barrier to the passage of barbiturate to the foetus. this study was carried out to investigate the pathological affect of phenobarbital on the nervous system and subsequent retardation of muscle of biceps brachii,triceps brachii,soleus,tibialis cranialis,gastroneumius. prenatal exposure of rats to phenobarbital was accomplished in utero by giving their mothers food to which was added 3g phenobarbital per kg feed. the microscopic pathology of brain revealed various degrees of degenerative and necrotic changes in different parts of brain. big vacuoles,edema and hemorrhage were also noted. there were significant differences between the absolute weights and muscle mass indices of control and prenatally phenobarbital-exposed groups. it is concluded that prenatal administration of phenobarbital had detrimental effects on rat nervous and muscular system.