Cytological study of copper in oral submucous fibrosis.
BACKGROUND
Habitual arecanut chewing is associated with Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF). High copper content in arecanut plays a vital role in pathogenesis of OSF. This study evaluates the copper-staining pattern of buccal epithelial cells in oral cytological smears of non-chewers, chewers, and OSF.


METHODS
Alcohol fixed buccal epithelial smears of 10 histopathologically confirmed cases of OSF, 10 chewers without lesion, and 5 nonchewers were stained with modified Rhodamine technique and studied under the light microscope. Buccal epithelial smears of non-chewers dipped in copper sulphate solution were used as known positive for copper.


RESULTS
Copper appeared as shades of palered within the cytoplasm of chewers and did not show any stain in non-chewers. Intense red stain was seen in OSF smears as dark granules within the cytoplasm.


CONCLUSIONS
Intense staining of copper in OSF buccal smears, than in the chewers supports the role of copper in the pathogenesis of OSF.
Rooban
T
T
Department of Oral and Maxillo Facial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai. drtroobanmds@rediffmail.com
Saraswathi
T R
TR
George
Antony
A
Joshua
Elizabeth
E
Ranganathan
K
K
D001114:Areca; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology*; D012235:Rhodamines
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines; D003300:Copper