title: Effects of Benzodiazepines on Acinar and Myoepithelial Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Benzodiazepines (BZDs), the most commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs with anxiolytic action, may cause hyposalivation. It has been previously shown that BZDs can cause hypertrophy and decrease the acini cell number. In this study, we investigated the effects of BZDs and pilocarpine on rat parotid glands, specifically on acinar, ductal, and myoepithelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups. Control groups received a saline solution for 30 days (C30) and 60 days (C60), and pilocarpine (PILO) for 60 days. Experimental groups received lorazepam (L30) and midazolam (M30) for 30 days. Another group (LS60 or MS60) received lorazepam or midazolam for 30 days, respectively, and saline for additional 30 days. Finally, other groups (LP60 or MP60) received either lorazepam or midazolam for 30 days, respectively, and pilocarpine for additional 30 days. The expression of calponin in myoepithelial cells and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in acinar and ductal cells were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals treated with lorazepam showed an increase in the number of positive staining cells for calponin as compared to control animals (p < 0.05). Midazolam administered with pilocarpine (MP60) induced an increase in the proliferation of acinar and ductal cells and a decrease in the positive staining cells for calponin as compared to midazolam administered with saline (MS60).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that myoepithelial cells might be more sensitive to the effects of BZD than acinar and ductal cells in rat parotid glands.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Experimental Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana M F
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation, School of Dentistry, Health and Bioscience School, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana R A
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Alanis
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology and Experimental Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana da Silva
authors.initials: Sda S
authors.lastname: Sapelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio A S
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation, Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Noronha
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation, School of Dentistry, Health and Bioscience School, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edvaldo A R
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, The University of Toledo Toledo, OH, US.
authors.forename: Yusuf S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Althobaiti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, The University of Toledo Toledo, OH, US.
authors.forename: Atiah H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Almalki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, The University of Toledo Toledo, OH, US.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation, School of Dentistry, Health and Bioscience School, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ignacio
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation, School of Dentistry, Health and Bioscience School, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline C B R
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical, The University of ToledoToledo, OH, US; Program of Post-Graduation, Department of Pharmacology, School of Dentistry, Health and Bioscience School, Pontifical Catholic University of ParanáCuritiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana M T
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gregio
keywords: GABAA receptor; benzodiazepines; dry mouth; immunohistochemistry; salivary glands