Figure 1: Photomicrograph of the ventral tongue mucosa of rat in saline / water group and saline / honey group, revealed normal keratinized squamous epithelium and connective tissue, which shows absence of subepithelial inflammatory cells and congested blood vessels (A1, H&E×100, A2, H&E×400). The MT× / water group showing decrease in the thickness of the epithelium and keratin layer with vascular hyperemia in the connective tissue (arrow), cytoplasmic vacuolation of some epithelial cells which appear with hyperchromatic nuclei (arrow), and flattening or shortening of rete ridges (B1, H&E×100, B2, H&E×400). The MT× / honey group showing increase in the thickness of the epithelium, nearly normal rete ridges with the absence of congested blood vessels in the connective tissue (C1, H&E×100, C2, H&E×400)