Histological Effects of Cytarabine on Liver and Buccal Mucosa in Mice

Aims : This study aimed to investigate the histopathological effect of cytarabine drug on liver and buccal mucosa in mice. Materials and Methods: Sixteen male albino mice were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and housed as eight animals /cage as a group.Control Group: was given daily I.P distilled water for 5 days. Cytarabine Group: was given daily Cytarabine at dose (100mg/kg/ I.P) for 5 days. At the end of experiment, all animals were sacrificed and liver in addition to the buccal mucosa were excised and placed in 10% buffered formalin solution for histological preparation and evaluation. Results: histopathological study of cytarabine treatment group showed multiple changes in liver like defused vacuolar swelling with abnormal hepatic cords patterns, congested sinusoids and multiple foci of apoptotic cells while in buccal mucosa sections revealed a severely shrinkaged and atrophied appearance of mucus-salivary glands, vacuolation of the stratified squamous epithelium and interstitial edema. Conclusions: this study concluded the direct cytotoxicity of cytarabine to liver and buccal mucosa. So caution should be taken when administrating the drug to patient with liver or salivary glands dysfunction.