Effect of Nicotine on the Rat’s Tongue and the Possible Protective Role of Royal Jelly Light and Scanning Electron Microscopic Study

Abstract

Background: nicotine (NIC) is an active substance in tobacco, the excessive use of tobacco products has been associated with various lesions in the oral cavity. Royal jelly (RJ) believed by many authors to be an anti-oxidant that protects different organs. Aim of the work: this study aimed to detect the effect of nicotine on the structure of the tongue and the possible protective effect of royal jelly. Materials and methods: 30 adult male rats were equally categorized into 3 groups. Group I: 10 rats used as the control group; Group II: 10 rats received nicotine sulphate 2 mg/kg subcutaneously daily for 4 weeks; Group III: 10 rats received nicotine as the previous group and royal jelly (100 mg/kg by intra-gastric tube daily) for 4 weeks. After 24 hrs of the last dose, the animals were dissected. Tongues were processed for the histological and scanning electron microscopic study.Results: group II revealed that the lingual dorsal surface was formedof irregularly and destructed papillae. Most of these papillae were thin with blunted or absent tips. Fungiform papillae showed destruction of their epithelium and ill-defined pores. Lamina propria showed depletion of the collagen fibers, skeletal muscle fibers revealed separations and destruction. Group III revealed restoration of the normal appearance at some regions and presence of nicotine effects at the others within light microscope and apparent restoration of the normal shape as seen within the electron microscope. Conclusion nicotine has harmful effects on the tongue and the addition of RJ can decrease these harmful effects, but not prevent it.