Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of Ampicillin/Sulbactum on enamel development of Albino rats' mandibular first molar.
Materials & Methods: Eight pregnant female Albino rats were equally divided into two groups: control and treated group. The treated group received intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg BW of Ampicillin/Sulbactum once daily for nine days till delivery. This was followed by injection of the offspring for additional 11 days. Treated offsprings (n=7) were sacrificed at 12 day of birth and H&E stained sections of the mandibular first molar tooth germ were examined. The other half of the treated pups was sacrificed at 28 days of birth, their mandibular first molars were examined by quantitative computerized tomography (QCT), scanning electron microscope (SEM) & ground section then statistical analysis was performed for enamel measurements of H&E, ground sections and QCT

Results: Examination of H&E stained sections of the Ampicillin/Sulbactam treated subgroup at 12 days revealed an apparent reduction in enamel matrix thickness which was statistically insignificant compared with control subgroup. QCT showed a significant decrease in enamel density of the treated subgroup compared with untreated subgroup at 28 days. SEM observation showed enamel surface irregularities, pores and fissures. An insignificant reduction in enamel thickness was revealed by statistical analysis of the ground sections under light microscope.

Conculsion: Within the limitations of this study, chronic administration of Ampicillin/Sulbactam adversely affected the development of enamel in rat's offspring.