Aim: Aim: The present investigation aimed to evaluate the immunosuppressive drug (Tacrolimus) effect of on the lingual mucosa through histological examination, immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and scanning electron microscopic examination.
Materials & Methods: Twenty rats were utilized in this study. The rats were distributed into two groups (10 animals each); group 1: rats served as control, group 2: rats were administrated daily oral dose of tacrolimus (0.5 mg/kg body weight). At the end of the experiment, the animals of the different groups were sacrificed, the lingual mucosa specimens were dissected out and prepared to be stained with H&E for histological evaluation and for immunohistochemical detection of PCNA. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using one way ANOVA followed by T-test to compare between the groups under study. The differences were considered significant at p value < 0.05. Tongue samples from each group were prepared to be scanned under scanning electron microscope.
Results: The H&E stained lingual specimens of group I revealed normal histological structure of surface epithelium and underlying lamina propria of both dorsal and ventral surfaces of the tongue while group II treated with tacrolimus revealed histopathological changes of both surfaces of the tongue. The immunohistochemical localization of PCNA showed negative to weak positive staining reaction of PCNA of the epithelial surface of the tongues. The scanning electron micrographs of the dorsal surface of the tongues of tacrolimus treated rats revealed atrophic changes.