Salivary glands of fetuses are adversely affected by artificial food colorings in rats

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Artificial food colorings, as types of food additives, are widely used at present in daily life. We aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to artificial food colorings during the intrauterine period on the salivary glands in adulthood. METHODS: A total of 30 Wistar albino female pregnant rats were included in this study. The treatment group was given a mixture of nine artificial food colorings at no observed adverse-effect-level doses. Neither mothers nor offspring were fed with food colorings after delivery. When the offspring became adults, they were sacrificed, and the possible histopathological and immunohistochemical effects of artificial food colorings on the salivary glands were investigated. In these glands, anti-matrix metallopeptidase 2 (anti-MMP2), anti-MMP9, anti-tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (anti-TIMP1), anti-TIMP2, and anti-TIMP3 were examined. RESULTS: The expressions of anti-MMP2, anti-TIMP1, anti-TIMP2, and anti-TIMP3 parameters were found to be higher in treatment groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was suggested that intrauterine exposure of synthetic food colorings may lead to deterioration of the tissue structure of the salivary glands in adulthood, thereby increasing susceptibility to chronic illnesses including malignancy and chronic inflammation. Therefore, pregnant women should give importance to their nutrition in terms of foods containing synthetic colorings.

Salivary gland anlage tumour of the nasopharynx: A case report and review for histopathological characteristics

@#Introduction: Congenital salivary gland anlage tumour of the nasopharynx is a lesion which usually presents with nasal and upper respiratory tract obstruction in the neonatal period. Timely diagnosis is essential to prevent the occurrence of respiratory complications in later childhood. Case Report: We present a 8-year-old boy complaining from difficulty in breathing and breastfeeding in the neonatal period due to an adenoid-like nasopharyngeal mass. Histological examination revealed solid and cystic squamous nests and numerous duct-like structures within collagenised stroma. Both epithelial and myoepithelial differentiation were noted in the tubular component. Discussion: A review of the clinical and histopathological features of published cases revealed that ancient lesions showed more prominent and complex epithelial component and more collagen rich stroma. We would like to suggest the possibility of salivary gland anlage tumour to be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress cases.