EFFECT OF CHRONIC ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION ON THE ORAL-MUCOSA - A MORPHOMETRIC EXAMINATION

Background: Chronic alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for ora l and pharyngeal cancer. Besides other mechanisms a toxic effect of et hanol and/or its metabolite acetaldehyde on the oral mucosa and a resu lting increased cell regeneration seem to play an important role in tu mor promotion. Methods: In the present study the effect of chronic eth anol consumption on the morphology of the oral mucosa of 20 male wista r rats that had been fed nutritionally adequate liquid diets containin g 36% of total calories either as ethanol or isocaloric carbohydrates for six months was investigated. Results: Morphometric analysis showed that in the ethanol rats, the size of the basal cell nuclei of the or al mucosa from the floor of the mouth, the edge of the tongue, and the base of the tongue was significantly increased (p < 0.001). The size of the basal cell layer in these rats was increased, and the stratific ation of the cells was altered. Mean epithelial thickness of the mucos a from the floor of the mouth was significantly reduced in the ethanol rats (p < 0.01). Conclusions: In conclusion, our results indicate tha t chronic ethanol consumption causes oral mucosa atrophy associated wi th hyperregeneration, which may result in an enhanced susceptibility o f the mucosal epithelium to chemical carcinogens.