Quantity (Number) and Quality (Morphology) Comparison of Mast Cells in Healthy and Diseased Gingiva

Abstract

Introduction: Comprehending the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis is helpful in the prevention of this disease. Since there are conflicting results regarding the role of mast cells in periodontitis, the aim of this study was to compare mast cell counts and morphology in periodontitis with clinically healthy gingiva.
 Materials and Methods: This cross sectional case-control study was performed on 36 gingival samples (obtained from 14 patients with chronic periodontitis and 22 cases with clinically healthy gingiva among those referred to a specialized medical center in 2013. Toluidine blue and hematoxylin -eosin staining was used to identify mast cells. The total number of mast cells (intact and degranulated) was counted under the light microscope in 5 consecutive high power fields (10×40) with no overlap. Data were recorded and analyzed statistically by SPSS 22 and Independent T-test. All of the data with a statistical significance (p value < 0.05) were analyzed.
 Results: According to Independent t-test, mean number of degranulated mast cells in periodontitis group was 17.78 and in healthy gingiva group was 29.72 which was not statistically significant(p value = 0.071). Mean number of mast cells in periodontitis group was 20.57 and in healthy gingiva was 36.54 and was statistically significant (p value = 0.042). Mast cell degranulation proportion in periodontitis group was 0.857 and in healthy gingiva group was 0.866, not statistically significant (p value = 0.891).
 Conclusion: According to results of present study it can be concluded that total number of mast cells and proportion of degranulated mast cell to the total number showed no significant relationship but the total number of mast cell was significantly increased in healthy group.