Yassmina Zakaria Hassan Manar A.A. Selim And Laila Sadek Ghali,

ABSTRACT
Objectives The Aim Of The Present Investigation Is To Study The Effect Of Chronic Administration Of Tramadol On The Submandibular Salivary Gland Of The Rats Through Structural And Ultrastructural Examination Of The Parenchymal And Stromal Elements To Detect Any Microscopic Or Submicroscopic Changes And Immunohistochemical Localization Of Cytokeratin 5, 6 & 18 In The Parenchyma Of The Gland.

Materials and Methods: Forty Six Adult Male Albino Rats With Body Weight 180-200 Gr. Were Used In The Investigation. The Animals Were Divided As Follows: Group 1 Consisted Of 16 Rats And Acted As Controls. Group 2 Consisted Of 30 Rats, They Recieved Tramadol Hydrochloride In Daily Oral Dose Of 60 Mg/kg Body Weight Using Metallic Curved Oropharyngeal Tube For 3 Months. At The End Of The Experiment Half Of The Animals Of The Different Groups Were Sacrificed By Cervical Dislocation (group 1.1 And 2.1 ) While The Rest Of The Animals Were Allowed A Recovery Period Of 4 Weeks (group 1.2 And 2.2 ).

Results: The Light And Electron Microscopic Examination Of Submandibular Salivary Glands Of Group 2.1 Rats Which Recieved Tramadol Hydrochloride In Daily Oral Dose Showed Variable Degrees Of Degenerative Changes That Involved Both The Parenchymal And Stromal Elements Of The Glands. While Group 2.2 Rats Which Allowed A Recovery Period Of 4 Weeks Showed Variable Degrees Of Improvement In Their Histological Structures. The Immunohostochemical Localization Of Cytokeratin 5, 6 & 18 Of Group 2.1 Rats Showed Weak To Moderate Positive Immunostaining Reactivity Of The Serous Secretory Cells, Myoepithelial Cells And Cells Of The Duct System. However, The Immunohistochemical Localization Of Cytokeratin 5,6 &18 Of Group 2.2 Rats Revealed Moderate To Strong Immunostaining Reaction Of The Serous Secretory Cells, Myoepithelial Cells And Cells Of The Duct System. Conclusion : Tramadol Administration Causes Reduction In The Secretory Function Of The Salivary Gland.