The Effect of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ameliorating Cytarabine-Induced Injury in The Submandibular Salivary Glands of Rats

Abstract

Objectives: Cytarabine is one of the potent chemotherapeutic drugs, that has many cytotoxic side effects. Our study was conducted to evaluate the possible ability of systemically injected bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) to ameliorate the cytotoxicity caused by Cytarabine in the submandibular salivary glands of rats.Methods: 30 albino male rats with weights 200-250gm were divided equally into three groups. Group I (control group). Group II (Cytarabine group) at a dose of (100 mg/kg) for five consecutive days. Group III (Cytarabine and BMMSCs): BMMSCs were administered intravenously via the tail vein one day after the last dose of Cytarabine drug at a dose (1.5X10 6 cells/body). After 6 days the rats were sacrificed and the submandibular salivary glands were dissected out. The glands were prepared for histological and immunohistochemical examination.Results: Upon examination, Group II showed atrophied acini with cytoplasmic vacuolization. Dilatation of the striated ducts with stagnation of the secretory material in their lumen, the nuclei of the ductal cells showed pyknosis. Meanwhile, Group III showed a well-arranged acini and nearly normal ducts. Immunohistochemical results using anti-caspase-3 antibodies showed improvement in Group III over Group II, there was a significant difference between the optical densities of Group II and Group III. Conclusion:Systemically injected BMMSCs have a therapeutic ability against the cytotoxicity caused by Cytarabine drug on the submandibular salivary glands.