Background: Sodium Fluoride has protective effects on dental health . Excessive ingestion of fluoride may cause toxic and harmful effects. Chronic toxicity with fluoride is more common than acute toxicity . Methionine is a potential natural antioxidant . Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin which acts as an antioxidant . It protects cells from free radical damage. It also enhances the immune function. Aim of the work: This work aims at evaluation of the protective role of Methionine , and Methionine in combination with vitamin E, on the pancreas of Albino rats intoxicated with Sodium Fluoride. Materials and Methods: This study included 24 adult male Albino rats which were divided into four equal groups : Group I (Control group): Each rat received 1 ml distilled water orally. Group II (Fluoride- treated group): Each rat received 10 mg NaF/kg b.w., once daily for 35 days. The prepared dose was given orally by a gastric tube .Group III(Fluoride and Methionine- treated group): Each rat received 10 mg NaF/kg b.w. orally by gastric tube once daily in addition to 2 mg methionine/rat/day using a syringe connected to gastric tube for 35 days .Group IV: Each rat received 10 mg NaF/kg b.w. orally by a gastric tube once daily in addition to 2 mg Methionine/rat/day orally by a gastric tube & vitamin E in a dose of 3mg/rat/day using a syringe connected to gastric tube for 35 days. Pancreatic samples were prepared for histopathological and Immunohistochemical study.
Results:Heamatoxylin and Eosin study of sections of the pancreas of Albino rats
from Sodium Fluoride-treated rats (group II) showed disturbance of the normal architecture of the pancreas in the form of variable degrees of cellular degeneration. There was an increase of interlobular connective tissue with dilated congested blood vessels and massive infiltration of inflammatory cells. Areas of highly vacuolated acini were also noticed. There was an obvious increase in the connective tissue by Masson's Trichrome stain . These group showed strong positive immunoreactions to PCNA in acinar cell and islets of Langerhans . Sections of the pancreas of Albino rat from group III that received sodium fluoride and Methionine showed an improvement of islets of Langerhans but with congested blood vessels and were surrounded by normal exocrine acinar cells of pancreatic tissues. Degeneration of few acini were also noted. Mild to moderate amount of connective tissue in between the pancreatic acini was seen by Masson’s Trichrome. moderate positive immunoreaction to PCNA in acinar cell and islets of Langerhans was also noticed . As regards rats of group IV , most pancreatic specimens showed preserved normal pancreatic architecture, with most acinar cells ; their nuclei appeared more or less similar to those in the control group . Normal appearance of islets of Langerhans with very mild infiltration with inflammatory cells was also observed. By Masson's Trichrome minimal amount of connective tissue was seen . Specimens also showed mild positive immunoreaction to PCNA in acinar and in islets of Langerhans .Morphometric results :Group III showed a significant (P |
