| Diazepam (DZ) is a benzodiazepine that belongs to the group of minor tranquilizers with myo-relaxing and anticonvulsant properties. DZ and its metabolites cross the placental barrier in human, monkey, hamster, and mouse, and accumulate in the placenta. Our aim was to investigate, through histological techniques, and semifine sections if DZ induces morphological changes in the placenta. Twenty female mice of the ICR strain were distributed randomly in two groups. One group (DZ) was treated from days 6 to 17 of gestation with a single daily subcutaneous (sc) dose of DZ of 2.7 mg/kg/ (bw); the second, control group (C) was treated with saline solution. All females (10 DZ and 10 C) were killed by decapitation. Placentas were extracted and fixed in... |
