Long-term effects of successive doses of vincristine on rat dental pulp and dentine

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze changes occurring in the pulp tissues and dentine of molar teeth of experimental animals after successive administration of the cytostatic Vincristine. Wistar rats of both sexes were used in this experiment. The experimental animals were subcutaneously injected with five consecutive doses of Vincristine at 0.1 mg/kg b.w. The first dose was given on the 7th or 8th postnatal day, and the next four doses at weekly intervals thereafter. The control group consisted of untreated animals. Both groups were sacrificed by decapitation at the age of 6 or 9 months. The obtained material was prepared for routine histological examination. The results obtained changes in the pulp and dentine of both molars in treated animals but not in the control ones. There were histologically evident vascular changes and perivascular edema accompanied the dominant pulp atrophy, with reduction of the odontoblast layer and hyalinisation of connective fibers. Dentine showed an inconsistent formation and calcification with significant non-homogenous incremental lines and loss of structure. All changes in dental pulp and dentine were more intensive as time proceeded.