The micronucleus assay in exfoliated cells of the human buccal mucosa

Abstract

The frequency of micronuclei resulting from chromosome breaks, and that of micronuclei deriving from spindle disturbances was determined in exfoliated cells of the human buccal mucosa in 50 normal individuals. Several confounding factors, such as age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, etc., were taken into account. While the frequencies of micronuclei resulting from chromosome breaks and of cells with this kind of micronuclei were about double in smokers as compared with non-smokers, the difference being highly statistically significant, the frequencies of cells with spindle disturbances were almost the same in the two groups. No statistically significant correlation was found for any of the other variables examined. In two patients suffering from cancer of the oral cavity the variation of the frequency of the micronuclei during the progress of radiotherapy and following its interruption was determined. It was found that gamma rays induced only micronuclei resulting from chromosome breaks, whose frequency increased linearly with the applied dose, and was lowered to the initial background level 7-12 days after the end of radiotherapy.

Self-perceived oral health status and cytomorphological changes in individuals with addictive oral habits: assessed by WHO oral health questionnaire for adults

“…No statistically noteworthy association was established for several of the variables examined; consisting of gender, age, hot food, spicy food, coffee, oral antiseptics, teeth brushing, alcohol consumption, oral infection and oral prosthesis. 45 Elevated occurrence of micronuclei in cells collected from smokers was also noted in our study and the previous studies were in compliance with the present study.…”

Effects of dietary boron on cervical cytopathology and on micronucleus frequency in exfoliated buccal cells

“…Increases in MN frequencies have been observed in the epithelial cells of patients with genetic disorders due to chromosomal aberrations and in individuals exposed to carcinogenic agents, such as ionizing radiation, arsenic, and cigarette smoke. Therefore, the frequency of micronuclei in epithelial cells is viewed as an indicator of a potential tissue-specific cancer risk (Sarto et al, 1987;Tolbert et al, 1992). In this study, the purpose was not to examine MN frequencies in patients with cervical malignancies, as has been done previously (Leal-Garza et al, 2002;Guzman et al, 2003).…”

“…Two coded slides were prepared for each subject and two different people scored a total of 2000 cells from each set of slides. The criteria for scoring were those of Sarto et al (1987) and Tolbert et al (1992).…”

“…Micronuclei (MN) analysis of exfoliated buccal cells can be used in screening for genetic damage, and for the effects of chemoprotective treatments, in human populations (Sarto et al, 1987;Karahalil et al, 1999;Gonsebatt et al, 2000).…”

Effect of sodium benzoate on DNA breakage, micronucleus formation and mitotic index in peripheral blood of pregnant rats and their newborns

“…After scanning of 1500-3000 cells with the 600£ objective, the 1000£ objective (Olympus BX50 microscope, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) was used for examination of the identified MN cells. As a reference, the Sarto et al [18] guideline was used for MN identification. Cases of nuclear blebbing (micronucleus-like structure connected with the main nucleus with a bridge) were not considered.…”