Abstract
We investigated using immunohistochemistry the possible protective effects of ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and selenium during chemotherapy treatment with cyclophosphamide. Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six: group 1, untreated control; group 2, 75 µg/kg cyclophosphamide; group 3, 75 µg/kg cyclophosphamide + 150 µg/kg/day α-tocopherol; group 4, 75 µg/kg cyclophosphamide + 200 µg/kg/day ascorbic acid and group 5, 75 µg/kg cyclophosphamide + 40 ppm/kg/day selenium. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was used to detect cell proliferation and AT1 was used to evaluate structural damage. Caspase-8, caspase-9 and caspase-3 signal molecules were used to investigate apoptosis. In group 2, epithelium, alveolar macrophages, infiltrated lymphocytes and connective tissue were immunostained moderately to strongly with PCNA. Bronchus, alveolar wall and infiltrated lymphocytes were immunostained moderately to strongly with AT1 and diffuse strong caspase immunoreactions were observed throughout the lung tissue. AT1 and caspase immunoreactions in groups 4 and 5 were similar to group 2. In group 3, PCNA immunoreactivity was strong in the bronchiolus epithelium, endothelial cell nuclei and in stacks of infiltrated lymphocyte cell nuclei. In group 3, AT1 and caspase immunoreactions were identical to group 1. It appears that α-tocopherol inhibits lung tissue damage in rats during chemotherapy.