Morphological changes in epithelium of the tongue of mice exposed to 40º GL alcohol solution

Abstract

Alcohol, itself was never pointed as a carcinogen. Literature refers to alcohol as an ind uctor or as element that would act in synergy with th e tobacco in oral cancer development. ln order to evaluate the alcohol role in oral can cer carcinogenesis, an experiment with 60 mice divided in three groups - Control, Continuous Alcohol and Topic Application Group - during one year period was accomplished. Animals of ali groups were fed with stanqard rat pellets. The rats from Alcohol Contínuos Group have received alcohol 40°GL as liquid diet. Topic alcohol application drinking group received water and an application of alcohol 40°GL twice a week simulatin g eventual consumption. Samples from tongue dorsu m were obtained a t the begin ning of the experiment and after every six months. The samples were processed for histological analysis. It was evaluated and changes were measured in the epitheliu m (epithelium thickness, keratin layer thickness, relationship between epithelium basal layer and superficial layer and relationship of n ucleus­ cytoplasm area (basal and intermedia t e layer). Throughout statistical analysis significant changes were found in almost ali evaluated items. It was concluded that alcohol could be pointed out as an oral m ucosa morphology-changing agent when consum ed contin uously or topically applied.