title: Early and late immunohistochemical and ultrastructural changes associated with functional impairment of the lachrymal gland following external beam radiation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate scintigraphic, immunohistological and ultrastructural changes associated with radiation-induced dysfunction of the lachrymal gland in an established experimental animal model. Ten rabbits were randomized into two groups and used for the study; in the control as well as experimental group, the Schirmer-test, lachrymal gland scintigraphy, and immunohistological and ultrastructural investigations were carried out prior to irradiation and 72 h as well as 1 month after single-dose irradiation with 15 Gy. Seventy-two hours after irradiation, secretion reduction evaluated by the Schirmer-test was evident. At this phase, we could observe a decrease in the expression of alpha-SMA and a re-distribution of tenascin-C matrix. Ultrastructural changes of acinar and myoepithelial cells were noticed; simultaneously, disturbance in the primary (99m)TcO(4)- uptake as well as significant reduction of the lachrymal ejection fraction was assessed scintigraphically. These changes were still evident 1 month following irradiation but became less intensive. Single-dose irradiation with 15 Gy implicates a functional impairment of the lachrymal gland, which is associated with early immunohistological and ultrastructural alterations. These changes may represent objective surrogate parameters for radiogenic dysfunction and prerequisites for further investigations on radioprotection of lachrymal glands during radiotherapy of the periorbital region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Luebeck, Germany. samer.hakim@mkg-chir.mu-luebeck.de
authors.forename: Samer G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schroder
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geerling
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lauer
authors.forename: Thilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.forename: Hartwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kosmehl
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Driemel
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Trenkle
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hermes
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sieg
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D011897:Random Allocation; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D019063:Tenascin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019063:Tenascin; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m