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Bisphosphonate's Effect on Tongue Mucosa: An Experimental Electron Microscopy Study.
Theodora Papamitsou1, Antonios Morsi-Yeroyannis2, Anastasios Papanastasiou2
1Laboratory of Histology-Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|January 30, 2020
Summary
Bisphosphonates (BPs) may cause mild tongue mucosal lesions. This study used Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to observe these effects in Wistar rats, revealing intercellular space increases and desmosome disorganization.
Area of Science:
- Oral histology
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Bisphosphonates (BPs) are medications primarily used to treat bone disorders by inhibiting osteoclast activity.
- Their potential effects on soft tissues, such as the tongue mucosa, are not well-documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential impact of bisphosphonates on the histological structure of the tongue's mucosa.
- To document ultrastructural changes in the tongue mucosa following bisphosphonate administration.
Main Methods:
- The study utilized Wistar rats, with 10 receiving alendronate orally and 10 serving as a control group.
- Tongue tissue specimens were analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) after 13 weeks of administration.
Main Results:
- Focal alterations were observed in the bisphosphonate-treated group.
- Key findings included increased intercellular spaces in the middle mucosal layer and disorganized desmosomes.
- Focal edema was noted in the lamina propria, while the basement membrane remained intact.
Conclusions:
- This research provides novel Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) insights into bisphosphonate effects on tongue mucosa.
- The findings suggest that bisphosphonates may induce mild mucosal lesions in the tongue.
