The present investigation was carried out in exfoliated buccal cells and saliva collected from pre-operative brain tumour patients. The DNA damage in these cells was assessed by alkaline comet assay and micronucleus (...The present investigation was carried out in exfoliated buccal cells and saliva collected from pre-operative brain tumour patients. The DNA damage in these cells was assessed by alkaline comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay. Salivary flow rate, pH, osmolality, total antioxidant activity (AOA) and vitamin C levels were also assessed in unstimulated whole saliva of these patients. In the comet assay a significant increase in the tail length (P<0.02) was observed when control and malignant groups were compared. A significant (P<0.02) difference in tail length was also noted between benign and malignant groups. Non significant results were found when control and benign groups were compared. Further, a marked increase in % MN (P<0.002) was observed when control and benign groups were compared. A significant increase in % MN (P<0.029) was also observed in benign cases when compared to malignant tumours. No significance was obtained when % MN in control and malignant cases was compared. Moreover, salivary flow rate and pH was significantly decreased and osmolality was markedly increased in brain tumour patients. The AOA levels in saliva were markedly decreased in brain tumours and vitamin C levels exhibited no change when compared to controls. Thus, as noted above susceptibility to free radical induced DNA damage also exists in the exfoliated buccal cells conducive to the lowered salivary antioxidant status of brain tumour patients.展开更多
文摘The present investigation was carried out in exfoliated buccal cells and saliva collected from pre-operative brain tumour patients. The DNA damage in these cells was assessed by alkaline comet assay and micronucleus (MN) assay. Salivary flow rate, pH, osmolality, total antioxidant activity (AOA) and vitamin C levels were also assessed in unstimulated whole saliva of these patients. In the comet assay a significant increase in the tail length (P<0.02) was observed when control and malignant groups were compared. A significant (P<0.02) difference in tail length was also noted between benign and malignant groups. Non significant results were found when control and benign groups were compared. Further, a marked increase in % MN (P<0.002) was observed when control and benign groups were compared. A significant increase in % MN (P<0.029) was also observed in benign cases when compared to malignant tumours. No significance was obtained when % MN in control and malignant cases was compared. Moreover, salivary flow rate and pH was significantly decreased and osmolality was markedly increased in brain tumour patients. The AOA levels in saliva were markedly decreased in brain tumours and vitamin C levels exhibited no change when compared to controls. Thus, as noted above susceptibility to free radical induced DNA damage also exists in the exfoliated buccal cells conducive to the lowered salivary antioxidant status of brain tumour patients.