Introduction: This study was designed to assess the effect of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) exposure of the parotid gland on oxidative stress and some trace element levels in the facial nerves of rats.
Methods: Twelve male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups, each consisting of 6 animals. The rats in the first group served as controls. The left parotid glands of animals in the second group were treated with 1000 18-kV shock waves while anesthetized with ketamine. The animals in both groups were euthanized 72 h after the ESWL treatment, and the right facial nerve was harvested for determination of oxidant/antioxidant status and trace element levels.
Results: Lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant glutathione (GSH) levels increased, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), decreased in the facial nerves of ESWL-treated rats. The levels of iron, lead, manganese, and cobalt increased, and magnesium, cadmium, and copper levels decreased.
Conclusions: ESWL treatment of the parotid gland may increase lipid peroxidation and decrease antioxidant enzyme activity in adjacent tissues such as the facial nerve. It also causes a decrease or increase in many mineral levels of the facial nerve, which is an undesirable condition for normal physiological function.
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