الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Cisplatin as a common chemotherapeutic agent is widely used for the treatment of various cancers by its mode of action. However, it affects normal tissues through production of ROS and free radicals. Under conditions of excessive oxidative stress that occur with the administration of Cisplatin, cellular antioxidant mechanisms may be unable to prevent the harmful effects of ROS on critical cellular processes. This leads to multiple side effects and triggering the mechanisms of apoptosis. Vitamin C through its antioxidant potency protects the cell components against oxidative damage by neutralizing the damaging effects of free radicals. So the aim of this study was to detect the possible protective effect of vitamin C on the damages induced by Cisplatin in rats’ submandibular salivary glands. Our study was carried out on forty - two male albino rats weighing between 150-200 grams. The rats were divided into: 1-Control group (GpI): Rats were given distilled water by oro-pharyngeal tube, and then they were given saline via intra-peritoneal injection. 2-Cisplatin group (GPII): Rats of this group were given single dose of Cisplatin (5 mg/kg bw) via intra-peritoneal injection. 3- Vitamin C and Cisplatin group (GPIII): Rats of this group were given single dose of vitamin C (100 mg/kg bw) by oro-pharyngeal tube, then after 10 min., they were given Cisplatin via intra-peritoneal injection. All groups were further subdivided equally according to time of termination into 2 subgroups: Subgroup A: Seven animals were terminated 3 days after the injection. Subgroup B: The other seven animals were terminated 5 days after the injection. The rats’ submandibular salivary glands from both sides were collected and those of one side were processed, stained by H&E stain and examined by light microscope to detect the histological changes induced by Cisplatin and the possible protective effect of vitamin C and the others for Anti-active Caspase 3 staining for detection of apoptosis. Histological results: Light microscopic examination of H&E sections of control subgroup showed normal submandibular salivary glands. In the subgroup received Cisplatin and terminated after 3 days, the acini and the ductal lining epithelium showed degenerative changes with numerous intracellular vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei. The connective tissue surrounding the ducts showed areas of destruction, with dilated and congested blood vessels. These histological damages of the parenchymal and connective tissue elements of the glands were slightly less obvious in the subgroup received Cisplatin and terminated after 5 days in comparison with those received Cisplatin and terminated after 3 days. However, the group that received Vitamin C and Cisplatin, the parenchymal elements were normal similar to the control group with very few cytoplasmic vacuoles and pyknotic nuclei. The connective tissue surrounding the ducts may show area of destruction with dilated and congested blood vessels. Immunohistochemical and statistical results: The least apoptotic activity was shown in the control subgroups which had similarity in their results followed by the subgroup received Vitamin C and Cisplatin and terminated after 5 days followed by that terminated after 3 days. where the most apoptotic activity was shown in the subgroup received Cisplatin and terminated after 3 days and followed by that terminated after 5 days. There was a significant increase in apoptotic activity in the subgroups that received Cisplatin when compared with the control subgroups. The subgroup received Cisplatin and terminated after 5 days showed a significant reduction in apoptosis when compared to that terminated after 3 days. While the subgroups that received vitamin C and Cisplatin showed insignificant difference with the control subgroups and with each other, while they showed a significant decrease in the apoptois when compared with the subgroups received Cisplatin only. |