The Possible Protective Role of Vitamin E on the Induced Silver Nanoparticles Toxicity on Filiform and Circumvallate Tongue Papillae of Albino Rats Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

Recently silver nanoparticles (agnps) are widely used as in manufacturing of filters to purify drinking water, as a part of surgical prosthesis, splints, dental alloys and most importantly in the medical field as a bactericidal, fungicidal and as a therapeutic agent. although these widely usage of agnps, can induce toxicity. to evaluate the protective role of vitamin e on the induced silver nanoparticles toxicity on filiform and circumvallate tongue papillae of albino rats. twenty-eight male albino rats weighing 200-250 grams were divided into; the control and the experimental groups, which is subdivided into, subgroup i receiving agnps and subgroup ii receiving agnps and vitamin e. the experimental period were 28 days, then rats’ tongue was dissected to be stained by h&e and examined immunohistochemically for bcl-2. histological examination of the epithelium covering both filiform and circumvallate papillae of subgroup i showed few epithelial cells vacuolations and signs of degeneration. meanwhile the taste buds’ cells of the circumvallate papillae also showed signs of degeneration together with amalgamated, illdefined serous acini of von ebner salivary gland (vesg). subgroup ii showed that the histological features of both tongue papillae were nearly comparable to that of the control group. immunohistochemical examination showed minimum apoptotic changes in subgroup ii as compared to subgroup i and nearly comparable to that of the control group. vitamin e showed an apparent protective role against the histological and apoptotic alterations caused by the toxic effect of agnps on both tongue papillae.