Protective effect of dexamethasone on 5-FU-induced oral mucositis in hamsters
Fig 3
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (a) and interleukin (IL)-1β (b) cytokines in the oral mucosa of hamsters with oral mucositis (OM). The saline group consisted of normal animals without OM. The mechanical trauma (MT) group consisted of hamsters receiving excoriations in the oral mucosa, without 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment. The 5-FU group received 5-FU, was subjected to MT, and was treated with saline i.p. The dexamethasone (DEX) groups received 5-FU, were subjected to MT, and received DEX i.p. at one of three different doses (0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg). The results are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (n = 5). *p < 0.05 vs. the saline group, #p < 0.05 vs. the 5-FU group (analysis of variance with Tukey’s post-test).