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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Isolation of Cells with Morphological and Spatial Information from Oral Submucous Fibrosis Samples by Laser Capture Microdissection
Published on: August 11, 2023
Cytological study of copper in oral submucous fibrosis
T Rooban1, T R Saraswathi, Antony George
1Department of Oral and Maxillo Facial Pathology, Ragas Dental College and Hospital, Chennai. drtroobanmds@rediffmail.com
Background:
Habitual arecanut chewing is associated with Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF). High copper content in arecanut plays a vital role in pathogenesis of OSF. This study evaluates the copper-staining pattern of buccal epithelial cells in oral cytological smears of non-chewers, chewers, and OSF.
Materials & Methods:
Alcohol fixed buccal epithelial smears of 10 histopathologically confirmed cases of OSF, 10 chewers without lesion, and 5 nonchewers were stained with modified Rhodamine technique and studied under the light microscope. Buccal epithelial smears of non-chewers dipped in copper sulphate solution were used as known positive for copper.
Result:
Copper appeared as shades of palered within the cytoplasm of chewers and did not show any stain in non-chewers. Intense red stain was seen in OSF smears as dark granules within the cytoplasm.
Conclusion:
Intense staining of copper in OSF buccal smears, than in the chewers supports the role of copper in the pathogenesis of OSF.
