Animal Model of Cisplatin-Induced Oral Mucositis: Dose Optimization

Objective: The present study aimed to develop and validate an animal model of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis due to cisplatin administration.

Materials and methods: Oral mucositis was induced in Wistar rats by cisplatin. Twenty healthy male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a control group, and cisplatin 3 mg/kgBW (D1), cisplatin 5 mg/kgBW (D2), and cisplatin 6 mg/kgBW groups (D3). The D1, D2, and D3 groups received the cisplatin intraperitoneally on days 1, 3, and 5, whereas the control group did not receive anything. On day 7 and day 14 the entire experiment was terminated in all groups and the changes in body weight, oral mucositis grades, and histopathological scores were evaluated.

Results: Cisplatin administration created a strong oral mucositis effect on groups D2 and D3. All the cisplatin doses decreased the rats' body weight by day 14. The worst oral mucositis grades and histopathological scores resulted from the administration of cisplatin at a dose of 5 mg/kgBW.

Conclusions: In conclusion the cisplatin 5 mg/kgBW administered on days 1, 3, and 5 by intraperitoneal administration was the optimum dose to induce oral mucositis.