World Journal of Oncology, ISSN 1920-4531 print, 1920-454X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, World J Oncol and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.wjon.org

Original Article

Volume 8, Number 2, April 2017, pages 45-52

Acute Radiation-Induced Changes in Sprague-Dawley Rat Submandibular Glands: A Histomorphometric Analysis

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1. Representative images of histomorphometric analysis of normal and irradiated glands by Image J software: (a) acinar size, (b) vacuole size, (c) distance between acini in non-irradiated and (d) irradiated group.
Figure 2.
Figure 2. Upper row: H&E-stained section of submandibular gland of control rat showing (a) dark serous acini (A) and light stained granular convoluted tubule (GCT) duct cells and (b) showing neurovascular bundle (NVB), blood vessels (BV), excretory duct (ED) and GCT at × 20 magnification. Lower row: H&E-stained section of irradiated submandibular gland showing (c) shrunken serous acini (arrow) with increased inter-acinar space at × 20 magnification and (d) degeneration of GCT duct cells (star) at × 40 magnification.
Figure 3.
Figure 3. Upper row: H&E-stained section of irradiated submandibular gland showing (a) cytoplasmic vacuolation of serous acini at × 40 magnification and (b) mucous acini exhibiting no morphological alterations at × 20 magnification. Lower row: H&E-stained section of irradiated serous acini showing (c) pyknotic nuclei and nuclear fragmentation along with vacuolation at × 40 magnification and (d) congestion of blood vessels (arrows) at × 20 magnification.
Figure 4.
Figure 4. Box plots showing the pattern and interquartile range of histomorphometric parameters in control and irradiated group: (a) serous acinar area, (b) serous acinar size, (c) space between serous acini and (d) ductal nuclear size.

Tables

Table 1. Morphometric Analysis
 
FeatureControlIrradiated
*The values given are as mean ± SD.
Serous acinar area (%)*77.16 ± 5.0536.55 ± 4.90
Serous acinar size (mm2)*3,447.53 ± 461.03428.25 ± 75.22
Serous acinar shapeRoundAngulated
VacuolesAbsentPresent
Vacuole features*-Round to ovoid in shape; 56.18 ± 18.62 mm2 in area
Space between serous acini (mm)*3.46 ± 0.6710.08 ± 0.60
Acinar degenerationAbsentAcinar shrinkage
Ductal area (percentage)-Nuclear changes seen without much architectural change
Ductal dilationAbsentAbsent
Ductal degenerationAbsentPresent
Acinar nuclear size (mm2)*137.44 ± 25.66Nuclear pyknosis
Ductal nuclear size (mm2)*50.15 ± 29.2353.63 ± 21.14
Type of chromatinEuchromatinEuchromatin to heterochromatin
Shape of acinar nucleusRound to ovoidFlattened-shrunken
Shape of ductal nucleusRound to ovoidRound to ovoid
Blood vessel morphologyNormalNormal
Blood vessel congestionAbsentPresent
Neural tissueNormalNormal
Fat cellsNot seenNot seen
Collagen fiber sclerosisNot seenNot seen
Mucous aciniNormalNormal

 

Table 2. Comparison of Histomorphometric Parameters Between Control and Irradiated Groups
 
ParameterGroupMean ± SDt value
**P < 0.001.
Serous acinar area (%)Control77.16 ± 5.0516.326**
Irradiated36.55 ± 4.90
Serous acinar size (mm2)Control3,447.53 ± 461.0318.281**
Irradiated428.25 ± 75.22
Vacuole features (mm2)Control--
Irradiated56.18 ± 18.62
Space between serous acini (mm)Control3.46 ± 0.67- 20.821**
Irradiated10.08 ± 0.60
Acinar nuclear size (mm2)Control137.44 ± 25.66-
Irradiated-
Ductal nuclear size (mm2)Control50.15 ± 29.23-0.272
Irradiated53.63 ± 21.14