Abstract
Medical utilization of laser irradiation is widespread at this time. However, there are few data concerning its effects on newborns from different species, including man. In the present work, the effects of He–Ne laser radiation of 5 mW at a wavelength of 632.8 nm on the buccal glands of newborn chickens were studied at 24 and 48 hr and 7 and 15 days postirradiation by histological (H/E) and cytochemical (PAS, Alcian blue, Toluidine blue) methods. At 24 hr there was an evident cystic distension of the glands, accompanied by vascular dilatation and hyperemia. PAS positivity decreased with respect to the nonirradiated controls, and there was also a marked increment of the metachromasia due to the presence of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. These alterations were maintained at all the postirradiation periods of time studied and, at 48 hr, it was found that secretory cells were separated at their lateral surfaces. At 15 days postirradiation hyperplasia of the basal cells of the gland epithelium was evident and was accompanied by an intraglandular erythrocytic infiltration. From these data, it appears that the type of laser to be employed, as well as its medical application immediately after birth, must be made under specially controlled conditions, based on cytological and histological analytic studies, to avoid the adverse effects of late damage produced by indiscriminative use of these forms of energy.
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