Resumo

HIGASHI, Dayla Thyeme; XAVIER, André Machado  e  RAMOS, Solange de Paula. Effects of simvastatin at immunosuppressive dose on salivary glands and cervical lymph nodes of Wistar rats. RFO UPF [online]. 2015, vol.20, n.1, pp. 46-51. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: to assess the effects of simvastatin, which is a drug used for the control of hypercholesterolemia and presents anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-oxidants effects, on the morphology of major salivary glands and cervical lymph nodes of Wistar rats. Materials and method: eighteenth male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control group (Co) (n=6) received sterile PBS (ip), treated group (T7 and T21) (n=12) received simvastatin (10 mg/kg, ip). The animals were sacrificed after 7 (T7, n=6) and 21 (T21 n=6) days to assess the morphology of the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands and cervical lymph nodes, in addition to CBC analysis. Results: T7 and T21 groups showed fewer and smaller acini, compared to Co group. Lymph nodes presented lower number of germinal centers per area for group T7, group T21 showed no differences compared to group Co. Hematological analysis showed lymphocytosis and neutrophilia only after 7 days. Conclusion: the administration of simvastatin at immunosuppressive doses may cause late changes in salivary glands and transient changes in cervical lymph nodes, which may alter its functional and protective activity on the structures of the oral cavity.

Palavras-chave : Salivary glands.; Lymph nodes.; Simvastatin..