MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIABETIC GLOSSITIS

The aim: To identify characteristic features of structural change of the dorsal part of the mucous membrane of the tongue (MMT) in experimental streptozotocin-induced diabetes (ESID).

Materials and methods: The study included 20 adult white male rats of Vistar line (body weight 180-200 g), which were equally divided into 2 groups: experimental (simulated streptozotocin diabetes mellitus) and control ones.

Results: 8 weeks after the beginning of ESID modeling, the changes in MMT are particularly pronounced. A large number of lamellar structures and keratin conglomerates are found on the surface of MMT. This phenomenon is closely correlated (r=0.70) with a decrease in the absorption capacity of superficial epitheliocytes and an increase in the number of heterogeneous microflora on the impression smear with low activity of leukocyte elements. The number of epitheliocytes of differentiation stages I-III continues to increase, and the number of epitheliocytes of differentiation stages IV-VI diminishes, which leads to a significant decrease in the index of cell differentiation and an increase in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. Such changes in MMT impression smears indicate active processes of epithelial desquamation with increasing duration of ESID.

Conclusions: Thus, the morphological changes of MMT in ESID are characterized by a diverse combination of atrophic and hyperplastic processes, resulting in uneven thickening of multilayered squamous epithelium. There are pronounced dystrophic changes in the epitheliocytes of the stratum corneum (dyskeratosis, parakeratosis) in the area of the taste buds. All areas of MMT are inflamed which indicates the development of diabetic glossitis.