Effect of pilocarpine before irradiation on function of rat submandibular gland

    LI Na1, LIU Fangª²E2, LI Yang1, FENG Fan1, SUN Chaoª²Yang3

    1Brigade of Cadets, 2Preclinical Medical Teaching Lab Center, School of Basic Medicine, 3Department of Radiation, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Milliantery Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To explore the protective effects of pilocarpine which was given before Xª²ray local irradiation on the morphology and function of rat submandibular gland. METHODS: Winstar rats were divided into test and control groups and the latter was given pilocarpine before a single dose of 10 Gy Xª²ray local irradiation on the area of rat submandibular gland. Ninetyª²six hours after the local irradiation, the difference between the two groups were compared in the quantity of saliva, the concentration of sodium, calcium and the morphology after HE staining. RESULTS: The quantity of saliva and the concentration of calcium of the test group were higher than those of the control group and the cell edema was not evident. The quantity of serous cells per area was higher than that of the control group, but the concentration of potassium of the test group was lower. CONCLUSION: The pilocarpine before Xª²ray local irradiation may have some protective effects on the morphology and function of rat submandibular gland. ......