The effect of Picinabil on submandibular gland histopathology

Sialorrhea is the excessive involuntary production of saliva and its flowing out from the mouth after oromotor maturation has occurred. It is an important symptom of various neurological illnesses. The aim of this study is to examine the histopathological effects of OK-432 on the gland when it is injected into the submandibular gland and to create an alternative treatment to the traditional treatment methods used for treating sialorrhea. The study was conducted on three groups of randomly selected New Zealand mature rabbits. In Group I (n=7), the gland of the tested rabbits were treated with 0,2 ml OK-432, in Group II (n=7) 0,5 ml OK-432 and Group III was treated with 0,5 ml normal saline. The rabbits were decapitated 42 days later and their bilateral submandibular glands were excised. Preparats prepared with the glands (specimens) were studied under a light microscope in terms of ductal inflammation, acinar cell inflammation, fibrosis, lipomatozis, atrophy and edema. The findings were graded a 4-point-scale – (0) no, + (1) mild, ++ (2) moderate and +++ (3) severe. The groups were compared with each other in regards to these parameters but no statistically significant finding was found among the groups (p>0.05). At the end of the study, it has been understood that OK-432 causes no histopathological changes in submandibular glands and therefore it cannot be used as an alternative treatment method for treating sialorrhea. Thus, we think that more experimental studies are needed in this field.