Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2002 Dec;45(12):1172-1178.

The Effect of Allopurinol Mucosal Painting in a Hamster of Oral Mucositis Induced by 5-Fluorouracil

• Chu HR
• Rho YS
• Choi JO
• Kim SJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a commonly used drug in carcinomas of the head and neck. Mucositis and bone marrow toxicity are the two major side effects. Some initial studies showed that the local use of allopurinol as a mouthwash may reduce the oral mucositis caused by the administration of 5-FU. The purposes of this study were to establish the stomatotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent in an animal model and to evaluate the effect of allopurinol mouthwashes in treating mucositis objectively. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Young male Golden Syrian hamsters were used. The combination of three intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU at five-day intervals and superficial mechanical mucosal irritation were applied and examined with a gross, light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. The allopurinol oral mucosal paintings were applied three times everyday, starting with the treatment of 5-FU, only at the right buccal mucosa for one minute.
RESULTS
Light microscopic changes were characterized by ulcer and inflammatory cells infiltration. The scanning electron microscopic examination showed irregular microridges and pits. Gross and histopathologic alterations were reliably reduced in the allopurinol mucosal painting group.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests an effective animal model for stomatotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, and that allopurinol mouthwashes can be effective in treating or protecting the 5-FU induced stomatitis.

Keyword

Fluorouracil; Mouth mucosa; Allopurinol

MeSH Terms

Allopurinol*
Animals
Bone Marrow
Cricetinae*
Fluorouracil*
Head
Humans
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Male
Mesocricetus
Models, Animal
Mouth Mucosa
Mouthwashes
Mucositis
Neck
Paint*
Paintings*
Stomatitis*
Ulcer
Allopurinol
Fluorouracil
Mouthwashes