evaluation of the effect of two systemic doses of hesa-a on prevention of induced tongue neoplasm in rats

background and aims. the aim of the present study was to compare the inhibitory effects of two systemic doses of hesa-a on prevention of 4-nqo-induced tongue neoplasms in rats. this study evaluated weight and histopathological changes. materials and methods. forty-eight male sprague dawley rats were divided into four groups of a, b, c and d of each 12 rats. the rats in groups b to d received 30 ppm of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-nqo) in drinking water for 12 weeks. when feeding with 4-nqo was initiated, the rats in groups b and c received hesa-a at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, 3 times a week. body weights were measured three times a week. at the end, the rats were euthanized and the tongue was removed. histological evaluations for carcinogenesis were carried out under a light microscope. results. the mean body weights of rats in groups b, c and d were significantly lower than that in group a (p < 0.05). there were no significant differences in weight changes between groups b, c and d. in the present study, after 12 weeks of treatment, tongue specimens in groups b and c did not exhibit severe dysplastic changes; however, concurrent hyperplasia, without atypia and mild-to-moderate dysplastic changes were detected. these changes were significantly less than those in group d, with significant differences between group d and groups a, b and c (p<0.001, p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). conclusion. hesa-a has dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the development of neoplasms of the tongue.