title: [A study on age-related changes of histological structure and DNA repair capacity in oral mucosa].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the age-related changes of histological structure and DNA repair capacity (P53 protein expression) in oral mucous membrane and try to explain why the elders are prone to oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The routine HE staining and an immunohistochemical technical (SP method) were used respectively to study the changes of histological structure and P53 expression in normal oral mucosa of different age groups. The SP staining results were evaluated by semiquantity method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1. With aging, a series of histological changes were observed in the oral mucosa; 2. With aging, an elevating tendency of P53 protein level emerged in the oral mucosa (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sensitivity to carcinogenic agents in elder people may be accentuated by the age-related histological changes and DNA repair capacity changes of the normal oral mucosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53