Lina A.M. Helmy , Samia M.Kamal And Marwa M.S. Abbass,

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The Current Study Was Performed To Investigate And Compare The Effect Of Fructose As A Natural Sweetener To An Artificial Sweetener (Aspartame) On The Integrity Of Submandibular Salivary Gland Of Albino Rats. Design: Forty Two Male Albino Rats Were Divided Into Three Main Equal Groups, Twenty Eight As Aspartame And Fructose Groups (Group I) And (Group II) That Were Given Aspartame In A Daily Dose Of 40mg/kg Body Weight And Fructose In A Ratio 10% Of Diet Respectively Dissolved In Distilled Water Via Gastric Tube Over A Period Of 12 Weeks. The Remaining 14 Rats Were The Control Group (Group III) That Were Given Daily Distilled Water Via Gastric Tube. The Submandibular Glands Were Dissected And Examined Histologically, Immunohistochemically For NF-?B And P53 As Well As Histomorphometrically.

Results: The Histopathological Results Revealed Degenerative Effects On Acini And Duct Systems Following Administration Of Aspartame And Fructose. Immunohistochemical Results Showed Significant Differences Between Aspartame And Fructose Groups In Terms Of NF-?B And P53 Expression. Conclusion: Despite That Aspartame Aministration Showed Degenerative Effects On Submandibular Glands, The Most Prominent Adverse Effect Was Found Associated With Fructose Administration .