Quantitative analysis of nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio and number of AgNORs in oral mucosa cells of smokers and non-smokers

Abstract

Cytopathology is a diagnostic method based on cell scrapings. The purpose of this study was to quantify cell changes caused by tobacco consumption. We selected 13 smoking and 9 non-smoking men older than 40 years who participated in the 2000 Campaign Against Cancer in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil. The sites selected for study were lip, tongue and floor of mouth. Two scrapings were collected from each site; one was silver stained (AgNORs) and analyzed quantitatively by the Imagelaba system; the other was stained by the modified Papanicolaou method. The Mann-Whitney statistical analysis (p=0.05) showed that: (1) number of AgNORs per nucleus was greater in the floor of mouth of smokers than of non- smokers; (2) nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio was greater in smokers' than in non- smokers' tongues; (3) nuclear area was larger in lip cells that had 3 or more AgNORs per nucleus. Each site displayed a specific behavior in response to injuries caused by smoking habits. Results suggest that quantitative analysis of nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio and number of AgNORs per nucleus may be efficient methods of assessing cell changes before an oral lesion is visible.