Histopathological Changes of Rat Tongue Epithelia Induced by the Administration of Low Iron Diet

Abstract

In order to clarify the histopathological changes of oral mucosa induced by low iron conditions, rat tongue epithelia in low iron conditions were examined histologically. Sprague-Dawley rats (3 weeks old) were divided into 2 groups. The experimental group (E group n=10) was given a low iron diet (PMI.Test Diet 5895,<5mg Fe/kg diet), while the control group (C group n=10) was fed a standard laboratory diet (NIHON CLEA, CE-II, 347 mg Fe/kg diet). Animals were sacrified after 8 weeks and 18 weeks, and their tongues were removed and histologically analyzed by H-E staining, SEM and histochemistry with anti-PCNA staining. Although histological changes of tongue papilla were not observed, epithelial dysplasia was demonstrated in some rats of E-group, and a significant increase in the percentage of PCNA positive cells in basal and para basal cell layers were observed in E-group when compared with that of C group (65% in E group, 7% in C group, 8 weeks; 50% in E group, 7% in C group, 18 weeks). Our results suggest that the increase in mitotic activity of tongue epithelia can be induced by the administration of a low iron diet.