Energy drinks and oral non-keratinocytes (Histological & Immunohistochemical rat study)

Aim: To study the effect of the chronic consumption of Red-bull energy drink and its ‎withdraw on oral non-keratinocytes in middle-aged adult albino rats.‎ Materials and Methods: 24 adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups (6 rats each). ‎Group I (control) divided into Ia, Ib subgroups received 1.5ml/100g/day distilled water for 4 ‎and 8 weeks respectively, group II (Red-bull group) received 1.5ml/100g/day RB orally for 4 ‎weeks. Group III (withdrawal) received the above dose of RB for 4 weeks and was left for 4 ‎weeks without any treatment. Paraffin sections of buccal mucosa were processed for H&E ‎and immuno-histochemical examination of Melanocytes (HMB-45), Langerhans cells ‎‎(CD1a) and Merkel cells (CK20). ‎ Results: Compared to control and withdrawal groups, H&E sections of Red-bull group ‎displayed apparent increase of inflammatory and degenerative changes. H&E and ‎immunohistochemical sections of group II revealed a significant increase in Langerhans ‎cells, Merkel cells and melanocytes compared to group III and group I respectively. In group ‎III, a significant decrease in Melanocytes, Langerhans cells and Merkel cells respectively ‎was detected compared to group II. A significant increase in Langerhans’s cells was observed in all ‎groups followed by Merkel cell then melanocytes. ‎ Conclusion: There was a significant increase in oral non-keratinocytes after chronic ‎consumption of Red-bull drink, while a significant decrease was revealed the withdrawal ‎group, despite the histopathological changes of the oral epithelium were not entirely restored ‎to normal. Oral non-keratinocytes have a substantial role in immune and inflammatory ‎reactions besides the renovation of oral epithelium.‎