Abstract
Background & Objective:Cell population and turnover are controlled by a balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. Detection of apoptosis in oral cancer contributes to its better prognosis and improved management. This study aimed to quantify apoptotic cells in leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using methyl green-pyronin (MGP) and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining.Methods:The sample included a total of 130 subjects (comprising 108 males and 22 females). Formalin fixed and paraffin embedded tissues were used and categorized into three groups of normal oral mucosa (n=10), leukoplakia with dysplasia (n=60), and OSCC (n=60). The number of apoptotic cells and apoptotic index (AI) were calculated after staining with MGP and routine H & E stained slides.Results:MGP stained the condensed chromatin of apoptotic cells. Statistically significant difference (P≤0.001) was observed among various study groups in terms of numbers of AI and apoptotic cells. Also, AI increased with increasing grades of dysplasia, and it was the highest in well differentiated OSCC. Results were statistically significant in both H & E and MGP stained sections (P≤0.001). A good correlation was found between MGP and H & E staining results.Conclusion:MGP is more specific and can lead to intense staining for chromatin in apoptotic cells. Accordingly, it can provide a good alternative to H&E in identifying apoptotic cells.
Highlights
The origin of the term “apoptosis” roots back to Greek literature, with intellectual meaning of “falling off”
In present study apoptotic index (AI) increased with increasing grades of dysplasia
We found that methyl green-pyronin (MGP) staining of apoptotic cells made their identification easy even at low magnification
Summary
The origin of the term “apoptosis” roots back to Greek literature, with intellectual meaning of “falling off”. The term was initially coined by Hippocrates (460-370 BC) with reference to the “falling of bones” and later Gallen extended its meaning to “dropping off scabs” [1]. It is a physiological cell death pathway, which is triggered by a tightly regulated cascade in which cells are destined to die. Apoptosis can be observed and analyzed under microscope by identifying presence of spherical or ovoid acidophilic globules rich in intensively basophilic nuclear fragments. These acidophilic globules are known as as apoptotic bodies [2]. This study aimed to quantify apoptotic cells in leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using methyl green-pyronin (MGP) and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining
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