Abstract: To observe the microvascular injury of parotid, submandibular and sublingual gland under radiotherapy in minipig. Methods: Six minipigs were divided into two groups (n=3), which were treated by radiotherapy at 0 Gy or 20 Gy at bilateral parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. After radiotherapy for 4 hours, the minipigs were euthanatized, while their parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining of CD31. Results: There were significant difference in CD31 positive staining between these two groups and among three glands (P<0.05). In addition, CD31 positive staining showed significantly differents between parotid with submandibular or sublingual gland (P<0.05), but no differences were detect beween between submandibular and sublingual gland. Conclusion: Radiotherapy can decrease the microvascular density in the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands of minipig, but the decreased extent in these glands were different, which in parotid is the most obvious.

Key words: Parotid, gland, Submandibular, gland, Sublingual, gland, Radiation, injury