High-intensity ethanol binge drinking pattern in adolescence induces long-lasting impairment in the salivary glands and saliva quality of rats.

This study investigated the effects of high-intense ethanol consumption during abstinence periods on the biochemical and morphological profile of the salivary glands and saliva of rats. For this, 72 male rats, 35 days old, exposed to ethanol (20% w/v) in 4 cycles of binge drinking at a dose of 3 g/kg/day were used. The animals were evaluated 1 day after the last cycle, as well as 30 and 60 days of abstinence. The parotid and submandibular glands were collected for oxidative biochemical and morphological analysis while saliva for antioxidant and total protein analysis. Student's t-test was used for statistical comparisons of each analysis period (p = 0.05). In the parotid, when compared with the control group, an increase in reduced glutathione was observed in 60 days (p = 0.04), a decrease in total antioxidant capacity in 1 day (p = 0.007), 30 days (p = 0.006) and 60 days (p = 0.001) were observed, as well as an increase in lipid peroxidation (p = 0.009) and nitric oxide (p < 0.0001) in 60 days. Morphologically, there was a reduction in the area of ​​acini in 1, 30, and 60 days (p < 0.05). In the submandibular, there was an increase in lipid peroxidation in 1 day (p = 0.0197) and nitric oxide in 1 and 30 days (p < 0.0001). Regarding morphological changes, a reduction in the area of ​​acini and an increase in stroma were observed at 1 and 60 days (p < 0.0001). It was concluded that exposure to ethanol during adolescence generates prolonged biochemical and morphological changes in the salivary glands and the saliva.