Rania Osama Abd El Halim, Souzy Farid Shinaishin And Marwa M. Abd El Hamed,

ABSTRACT
Background: Cisplatin Is Widely Used As An Effective Chemotherapeutic Agent, But It Affects Normal Tissues By Generating Reactive Oxygen Species And Free Radicals. Vitamin C Is One Of The Most Available Potent Antioxidant Agents. It Can Counteract The Damaging Effect Of Free Radicals And Harmful Oxygen-derived Species In The Tissues.

Aim: The Aim Of This Study Was To Evaluate The Apoptosis Induced By Cisplatin In Rats� Submandibular Salivary Glands And The Possible Protective Effect Of Vitamin C.

Materials and Methods: The Study Was Carried Out On 42 Male Albino Rats Weighing Between 150-200 Grams. The Rats Were Divided Into: Control Group: Rats Were Given Distilled Water Orally And Intra-peritoneal Injection Of Saline. Cisplatin Group: Rats Were Given Intra-peritoneal Injection Of Single Dose Of Cisplatin (5 Mg/kg). Vitamin C And Cisplatin Group: Rats Were Given Single Dose Of Vitamin C (100 Mg/kg) Orally And Intra-peritoneal Injection Of Cisplatin. All Groups Were Further Subdivided Into: Subgroup A: Seven Animals Were Terminated 3 Days After The Injection. Subgroup B: The Other Seven Animals Were Terminated 5 Days After The Injection. Sections Of The Processed Submandibular Salivary Glands Were Stained By Hematoxyline & Eosin And Anti-active Caspase 3 Immuno Stains To Detect The Histological Changes Induced By Cisplatin And The Possible Protective Effect Of Vitamin C.

Results: The Subgroups Received Cisplatin Revealed Degenerative Changes In The Acini And Ducts As Numerous Intracellular Vacuoles And Pyknotic Nuclei. While Those Received Vitamin C And Cisplatin Revealed More Or Less Normal Glandular Structure. Immunohistochemical Examination Revealed That The Positive Reaction To Anti-active Caspase 3 In Cisplatin Subgroups Was Significantly Higher Than The Control Subgroups Indicating Severe Apoptotic Changes While Vitamin C And Cisplatin Subgroups Revealed Significant Reduction In The Apoptotic Activity In Comparison With Cisplatin Subgroups. Conclusion: Vitamin C Had A Protective Effect Against Cytotoxic And Apoptotic Changes Induced By Cisplatin In Rat Submandibular Salivary Glands.