Cellular and Immunohistochemical Profile Organs of the Mouse Mus Musculus after in Utero Exposure to Antimalarial Drugs (Manalaria^® and Kilma^® Syrup)

Context: Taking antimalarials during pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, is regulated by guidelines recommended by the regulatory authority in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Notwithstanding this regulation, it is clear that other antimalarial molecules are used in our environment, such as Manalaria^® and Syrup Kilma^®, which are not recommended during this gestational period. No visible congenital malformations were detected in Mus musculus mice exposed to these two antimalarials at therapeutic doses during the gestational period. The absence of visible malformations, not constituting sufficient proof of the safety of these molecules, motivated the initiation of the present study, the aim of which is to search for possible cellular and/or molecular anomalies in exposed Mus musculus mice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional experimental study involving 6 Mus musculus mice divided into three groups of two, the first group of which was subjected to Manalaria^®, the second to Kilma^® Syrup and the third which served as a control. Noble organs from each of these mice were removed and histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed. Results: Microscopic examination of specimens taken from exposed mice revealed lesions of hepatic congestion, tubulointerstitial necrosis as well as pulmonary fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis, for its part, noted the presence of clusters of inflammatory cells including CD68-positive histiocytes/macrophages, CD20-positive B lymphocytes and a few small CD3-positive T lymphocytes. Conclusion: We have not observed any congenital cellular or molecular abnomalities in Mus musculus mice whose mothers were exposed to phytomedicines. Furthermore, we report the presence of inflammatory lesions not probably linked to these products.