Ameliorati
Ameliorative
Effects of Selenium and Vitamins C and E on Chronic Fluoride Pancreatic
Toxicity: Structural and Ultrastructural Changes in Albino Rats
Gamal Abdel Salam1,
Esam M. Mehlab1, Mohamed Al-Shishtawy2 and Ibrahim
Al-Zahrani3
Departments of Anatomy1and
Forensic & Applied Toxicology2, Faculty of Medicine,
Benha University, Egypt and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Northern Border
University, KSA3
Abstract: Objectives: Histological
evaluation of toxic effects of chronic exposure to sodium fluoride (NaF) on
pancreas of albino rats and the impact of synchronous administration of
selenium and vitamins C and E. Materials & Methods: The
study comprised 60 normal healthy growing adult male albino rats, weighing
200-250 gm. The animals were divided into three equal groups: Control group
received no medications, NaF group received NaF solution in a dose of 10 mg/kg
body weight (BW) once daily for 35 days. Prophylaxis group received one daily
dose of NaF solution in addition to selenium and vitamins C and E. All
medications were administered orally using syringe connected to a 8F pediatric
feeding tube. Studied animals were weighed daily for adjustment of the doses of
used medications. After 35 days from the beginning of experiment all animals
were sacrificed and pancreas was extracted for light microscopic (LM)
examination of specimens stained with hematoxilin-eosin (Hx & E) and Masson's
trichrome stain and for electron microscopic examination. Results: The
percentage of BW gain was significantly higher in control group compared to
other groups with significantly higher percentage of BW gain in prophylaxis
group compared to NaF group. LM examination of NaF group specimen showed loss
of normal architecture of pancreatic acini with the appearance of many
cytoplasmic vacuoles. There is congestion of blood vessels (BV) with occasional
extravasations between acinar cells. Focal condensation of CT around the
congested BV and in between acini. In prophylaxis group, architecture of
pancreatic acini was preserved with basal nuclei and apical zymogen granules.
Dark and light cells of islets of Langerhans appeared normal with minimal
congestion of BV. Masson's Trichrome stained sections showed condensation of
connective tissue around BV with less CT in between acini. EM examination of
NaF group specimen showed pyramidal acinar cells containing rounded basal
heterochromatic nuclei and well defined rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER). Some
mitochondria are intact, while others are vacuolated with small number of
zymogen granules. There were multiple vesicles of variable sizes with large
vesicles having membranous structures and amorphous materials. Nuclei of B-cell
of islet of Langerhans were heterochromatic and its characteristic granules are
normal with central dense core separated from their limiting membrane by clear
space, while other granules are vacuolated. In prophylaxis group, specimens
showed that some pyramidal acinar cell had double nuclei and its cytoplasm
contains rER, many zymogen granules and some vesicles. B-cell had
heterochromatic nucleus and its characteristic granules had a dense core.
A-cell had oval nucleus with moderate amount of electron dense granules. Conclusion:
Chronic fluoride exposure had deleterious effect on pancreatic structure and
ultrastructure with manifested failure to thrive. Such effects could be
attributed to redox state disturbances and could be ameliorated with the use of
selenium and vitamins C and E.
[Gamal Abdel Salam, Esam M. Mehlab, Mohamed
Al-Shishtawy and Ibrahim Al-Zahrani. Ameliorative Effects of Selenium
and Vitamins C and E on Chronic Fluoride Pancreatic Toxicity: Structural and
Ultrastructural Changes in Albino Rats. J Am
Sci 2013;9(3):274-283]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 38
Kew words: Fluoride, Pancreas, Structural changes,
Ultrastructure changes, Selenium, Vitamins. Full Text 38