title: Cytogenetic biomonitoring of oral mucosa cells of crack cocaine users.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate genomic damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from crack cocaine users by micronucleus test. A total of 30 crack cocaine users and 30 health controls (non-exposed individuals) were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from cheek mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative, and dropped in clean slides, which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. The results pointed out significant statistical differences (p < 0.05) of micronucleated oral mucosa cells from crack cocaine users. Exposure to crack cocaine caused an increase of other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyolysis in oral cells as well. In summary, these data indicate that crack cocaine is able to induce chromosomal breakage and cellular death in oral mucosa cells of users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Propedeutics and Integrated Clinic, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: das Graças Alonso de Oliveira
authors.forename: Jean Nunes
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Patrícia Ramos
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.forename: Victor Hugo Pereira
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Nara Rejane Cruz
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: da Costa Padovani
authors.forename: Adriana Marcassa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Daniel Araki
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D016923:Cell Death; D002467:Cell Nucleus; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D016578:Crack Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D004249:DNA Damage; D055030:Drug Users; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016578:Crack Cocaine