Mina N. Sabet, Samah S. Mehanni, Dina B.E. Farag And Hany Gobran,

ABSTRACT
Background: Zoledronic Acid, (ZOL) A Highly Potent Nitrogen-containing Bisphosphonate Used For The Treatment Of Pathological Bone Loss.
Objectives: Evaluate The Effect Of Zolderonic Acid On The Rat Submandibular Salivary Glands. Methods: 80 Adult Male Albino Rats Were Utilized. They Were Equally Divided As Control Group (group I) And As ZOL Experimental Group (Group II). Each Group Were Subdivided Into 2 Subgroups A (sacrificed After 3 Weeks) And B (sacrificed After 8 Weeks) Consisting Of 20 Rats Each. Rats In ZOL Groups Received Weekly Dose Of 0.2 Mg/kg Of ZOL Intra-peritoneally Until Their Date Of Sacrifice. The Submandibular Salivary Glands Were Then Dissected And Examined Histologically And Immunohistochemically.

Results: Histologically, Group I, Both A & B, Showed Normal Architecture Of The Acini And Duct System. Group IIA, Revealed Seromucous Acini With Intracellular Vacuolizations, Degeneration Of The Granular Convoluted Tubules In Addition To Disrupted Epithelial Lining In The Striated And Excretory Ducts. Group IIB, Showed Indistinct Outline Of The Seromucous Acini, Reduction Of Eosinophilic Granules Of The Granular Convoluted Tubules, Indistinct Basal Striations Of The Striated Ducts, And Excretory Ducts With Ruptured Epithelial Lining. Immunohistochemical Examination Revealed A Statistical Significant Increase In The Expression Of Caspase-3 In Experimental Group (IIA & IIB) As Compared To The Control Group (IA & IB Respectively). Immunohistochemical Examination For CD-31 Positive Blood Vessels Demonstrated Significant Decrease In CD-31 Positive Blood Vessels In Experimental Group (IIA & IIB) As Compared To The Control Group (IA & IB Respectively).

Conclusions: These Findings Indicated That Administration Of ZOL Resulted In Salivary Gland Histopathological Alterations Which Ultimately May Lead To Salivary Gland Dysfunction.