Background: Cisplatin is a potent anti-carcinogenic agent; however, it has many dose-limiting side effects. The aim of our study was to determine and compare the effectiveness of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and platelet rich plasma (PRP) as a treatment modality against cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in the submandibular glands of Albino rats.
Methods: Thirty-eight adult male albino rats, were used in the present study. Ten rats were used as a source of PRP, and the rest were included in the experimental design as follows: negative control group, cisplatin group (positive control) received (5mg/kg/week) cisplatin intraperitoneal on day 1 and 8. ADSCs group received ADSCs (2 × 10˄6 cells/rat) once intravenous via tail vein + cisplatin. PRP group received PRP (0.5 mL/kg by intraperitoneal injection 3times/week) + cisplatin.
Results: Both ADSCs and PRP enhanced the regeneration of submandibular salivary gland tissue after the cisplatin induced cytotoxicity; represented by significant increase in area fraction of acini, percentage of hemolysis as well as significant decrease in area fraction of apoptotic cells in both groups compared to cisplatin group respectively. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding all comparative parameters used in this study. In addition, there was a non-significant difference in the area fraction of apoptotic cells between PRP group and the control group, but we detected a significant difference between ADSCs group and the control group regarding the same parameter.
Conclusions: Both adipose-derived stem cells and Platelet rich plasma are considered as effective treatment for cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in submandibular salivary glands. However, PRP is recommended over ADSCs as a potent and effective treatment due to its safety, easy accessibility and proved treatment effect.