Prevention of liquid-diet-induced damages on submandibular glands by selenium supplementation in rats

This study was designed to explore the protective effects of selenium on submandibular glands of rats that were maintained on liquid diet. The animals kept on liquid diet for 10 days following 20 days of solid diet, had severe degeneration on both acinar and ductal cells: pycnotic nuclei, enlarged granular endoplasmic reticulum, swollen mitochondria with separated cristae, reduction of secretory granules and abundant lipid droplets were observed. Body and gland weights of these animals were found to decrease significantly compared to those of control group given solid diet for 30 days. The animals that were fed 20 days with solid diet + 10 days liquid diet and also given selenium 0.4 mg/kg for 30 days, did not have any remarkable sign of degeneration on submandibular glands, and their gland weights significantly increased when compared to the animals fed with liquid diet without selenium supplementation. Submandibular glands of the group that was maintained on solid diet for 30 days and supplemented with selenium in drinking water were found to be normal. They showed consistent gain in both body and gland weights almost equal to that of control group. As a result, we assume that adding selenium in liquid diet can prevent the detrimental effects of liquid diet consumption on submandibular glands.