Alteration in buccal mucosal cells due to the effect of tobacco and alcohol by assessing the silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions and micronuclei

BACKGROUND: Oral habits such as alcohol consumption and tobacco chewing are considered to be initiators of dysplastic changes in the oral mucosa. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the alteration in apparently normal buccal mucosal cells due to effect of alcohol and tobacco by assessing silver-stained nucleolar organiser regions (AgNORs) and micronuclei. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprised a total of 100 subjects which were divided into four groups with 25 subjects having alcohol consuming habit, 25 subjects were tobacco consumer, 25 were both alcohol and tobacco consumer and 25 formed control group who neither consumed alcohol nor tobacco. Two cytological smears were taken from each subject with the help of cytological brush. The smear was then wet fixed and stained with AgNOR and acridine orange staining technique and assessed for nucleolar organiser region and micronuclei count respectively. 500 cells per slide were counted to note the changes. RESULTS: Mann-Whitney test was applied to assess the variation in the number of AgNORs and micronuclei count between different groups. Cytological changes in each group revealed the increase in mean AgNORs and micronuclei count in subjects with combined alcohol and tobacco consumption when compared with individual groups. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco and alcohol consumption produce alteration in apparently normal buccal mucosal cells, which may cumulatively lead to carcinomatous changes. Result of these changes may be used as educational tool in cessation of habits.