Effects of Cyclophosphamide on the Mucosa of The Tongue in Adult Male Albino Rats and the Possible Protective Role of Rosuvastatin. Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Background: Reduced taste sensitivity and complete loss of taste became an annoying complication of cancer chemotherapy and experienced by a large percent of cancer patients. Searching for a recent protective agents became an urgent necessity in recent research work. Aim: The present study aimed at evaluation of the possible protective role of rosuvastatin against disruptive effect of cyclophosphamide on the lingual mucosa of adult male albino rats. Methods: Thirty-two adult male albino rats were divided into; Group I: received normal saline 0.9% for 15 days. Group II: received 20 mg/kg rosuvastatin dissolved in normal saline 0.9% for 15 days. Group III: received a single dose of 150mg/kg cyclophosphamide intraperitoneally on day 8 of the experiment, then left 7 days without treatment. Group IV: received 20mg/kg rosuvastatin dissolved in normal saline for the first 7 days, then a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg cyclophosphamide on the 8th day, after that rosuvastatin was continued for the following 7 days. Histopathological results revealed apparently normal architecture of the tongue mucosa in groups I, II with no signs of degeneration or inflammation. Reversibly, group III showed extensive atrophic and degenerative changes effecting different types of lingual papillae especially the gustatory ones. Besides to marked increase in thickness; collagen deposition; extensive hyprcellularity and mast cell infiltration of the lamina propria. Group IV showed marked attenuation of degenerative signs affecting different forms of lingual papillae and decreased number of invading mast cells. Decreased collagen deposition and restoration of normal thickness of lamina propria. Immunohistochemical results revealed decreased immunoreactivity of S100 protein in Schwann cells of subepithelial nerve plexus of gustatory papillae in group III. Decreased number of apoptotic cells among the epithelial covering of the gustatory papillae of group IV with less affection of stem cell progenitors compared to group III.