Effects of Nicotine on Rat Tongue Muc Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the histopathological and immunohistochemical effects of systemically administered nicotine on rat tongue mucosa. STUDY DESIGN: Rats were assigned to groups: the experimental group received nicotine ically (nicotine sulphate 2 mg/kg subcutaneously for 28 days), while the rats in the trol grow ere administered physiological saline mL subcutaneously for 28 days). All animals sacrificed at the end of the study, and tongue tissue ere removed and prepared according his histological procedures. Sections were sta toxylin a sin and observed by. Immunorec y of tongue mucosa , 'E-ca Ilagen IV, and VEr by immunhistochemical staining. RESULTS: There w if cant differences in the average histlogical a between the nicotine-treated treated gr Morphological changes, including inflammatory I to infiltration and cellular desquamation, blood dilation, hemorrhage, and epithelial degeneration r. re noted. Further, E-cadherin expression w significantly decreased in the nicotine-treated grow,w the untreated group. The nicotine treat up showed an increase in collagen IV secondary ae and basal cells. CONCLUSION: The increased level of VEGF exprescs n in the nicotine-treated group may have affected endothelial cell apoptosis.