EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF STATIN AGAINST THE EFFECT OF BOTH OF NICOTINE AND ALCOHOL ON THE STRUCTURE OF SUBMANDIBULAR SALIVARY GLAND IN ALBINO RAT (Histological andImmunohistochemical Study)

Abstract

Major salivary glands in humans as well as rodents are composed of three pairs: parotid, submandibular and sublingual (Amano, 2001).Nicotine is an organic alkaloid compound found naturally throughout the tobacco plant with high concentration in the leaves(Soben and Peter, 2003).Many effects of nicotine have been reported on the oral cavity including oral ulceration (Fletcher et al., 1985). Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a slight chemical odor. It is used as an antiseptic, a solvent, a fuel, and, due to its low freezing point, the active fluid in post-mercury thermometers(Brust, 2010).Ethanol also impairs or even inhibits prostaglandin production in rat salivary gland. Howerver acute treatment with ethanol at physiological doses does not alter the PGE2 receptor binding in rat submandibular glands (Wang et al., 1992).