Histological study of the parotid gland in rats treated with oxybutynin hydrochloride

The purpose of this study was to determine whether oxybutynin hydrochloride (OBHC) induces histological changes in the parotid gland. Thirty male rats were divided into three groups, young (8 weeks), middle-aged (20 weeks) and old (113 weeks). Six rats in each group were given a diet containing OBHC mixed with the standard food. Four rats in each group had free access to standard food as a control. Eight weeks after dieting, all animals were sacrificed and removed their parotid gland. Degeneration, dispersion of basophilic material and transformation of nuclear shape in the acinar cells and atrophy of duct cells were observed in 5 young, 2 middle aged and 6 old rats. There were no appreciable histological changes in young and middle-aged control rats, although an aged-related effect of OBHC was seen in older control animals. These results indicate that chronic treatment with OBHC produces significant effects of aging on histological changes in the parotid gland of rats.