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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Studying Age-dependent Genomic Instability using the S. cerevisiae Chronological Lifespan Model
Published on: September 29, 2011
[A study on age-related changes of histological structure and DNA repair capacity in oral mucosa]
Hongmei Zhou1, Ya Yang, Min Zhou
1Department of Oral Medicine, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Objective:
To investigate the age-related changes of histological structure and DNA repair capacity (P53 protein expression) in oral mucous membrane and try to explain why the elders are prone to oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Methods:
The routine HE staining and an immunohistochemical technical (SP method) were used respectively to study the changes of histological structure and P53 expression in normal oral mucosa of different age groups. The SP staining results were evaluated by semiquantity method.
Results:
1. With aging, a series of histological changes were observed in the oral mucosa; 2. With aging, an elevating tendency of P53 protein level emerged in the oral mucosa (P < 0.05).
Conclusion:
The sensitivity to carcinogenic agents in elder people may be accentuated by the age-related histological changes and DNA repair capacity changes of the normal oral mucosa.
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