Objective: To investigate the possible protective effect of oral administration of Eruca sativa oil against nicotine induced alterations on rat parotid gland using histological ,immunohistochemical and morphometric methods.
Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male rats were included in the study. They were randomly divided into to the following equal groups G1, control group which received standard rat pellets and oral saline. In G 2 nicotine tartrate was given daily at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 3 weeks. G3 which received nicotine tarterate orally at a dose of 50 mg/kg plus Eruca sativa oil at a dose of 0.5 ml/Kg for 3 weeks. At the end of study, animals were euthanized under deep ether anesthesia and the front of neck was dissected to free and extract the parotid glands in one block. They were fixed in 1% neutral buffered formalin and processed. 5 micron thick sections were stained by Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome. Immunostaining using specific antibodies for α smooth actin and tumor protein P53 was done, this was followed by morphometric and statistical studies.
Results: Histological sections revealed that oral nicotine induced histological alterations in parorid gland compared with control sections manifested as focal atrophy, vacuolation and karyomegaly of serous acini cells. Loss of striated ducts basal striation with degenerated nuclei and vascular congestion along large ducts were observed. Masson trichrome sections showed increased collagen fiber deposition with nicotine intake . Immunohistochemical sections demonstrated increased expression of α smooth actin and P53 in myoeithelial cells. Most of these changes were ameliorated by oral administration of Eruca sativa oil.
Conclusion: Oral nicotine has exerted degenerative effect on rat parotid gland. Eruca sativa oil was found to have protective role and can improve the nicotine-induced degeneration. Thus, it can be advised with antismoking management therapy.