The role of exogenous epidermal growth factor on Ki-67 proliferation marker expression in the submandibular salivary gland of albino rats receiving doxorubicin
Abstract
<ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Background:</ns3:bold> This study was conducted to evaluate the role of exogenous epidermal growth factor (EGF) injection on the Ki-67 immuno-expression in submandibular salivary gland tissue of rats receiving doxorubicin (DXR). </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Methods:</ns3:bold> A total of 21 two-month-old male albino rats, of 200 g body weight, were divided into three groups: control group; DXR group, the rats received 20 mg/kg body weight DXR as a single intra peritoneal injection; DXR+EGF group, the rats received the same dose of DXR and on the next day they were injected intraperitoneally with 10 µg/kg body weight of EGF daily for one week. Histological sections and immunohistochemical expression of Ki67 sections were examined using a ZEISS Primo Star light microscopy and images taken using Tucsen IS 1000 10.0MP Camera. </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Results:</ns3:bold> Ki-67 expression was significantly increased in submandibular salivary glands of rats after DXR injection. However, Ki-67 expression in the glandular tissue was restored to normal levels after EGF injection. </ns3:p> <ns3:p> <ns3:bold>Conclusions:</ns3:bold> EGF preserved glandular architecture after DXR injection and maintained Ki-67 immune-expression within the glandular tissue near to the normal level. </ns3:p>