Abstract

Aim: The objective of the study was to assess the effect of age related hormonal changes in the buccal mucosa of female subjects by estimating the cell diameter (CD) and nuclear diameter (ND) and nuclear cytoplasmic ratio Materials and methods: A total of 60 apparently healthy female subjects with no known history of any systemic disease were chosen. The subjects were divided into three groups , group -I : female subjects less than 15 years of age, Group-II : female subjects aged 15-45 years, Group-III female subjects aged more than 45 years. Buccal smears were taken and fixed in 95% alcohol, stained using the standard Papanicolaou laboratory procedure. Dimensions of 20 cells were measured from each smear and the mean was calculated. The Cytoplasmic Diameter and Nuclear Diameter were measured using image analysis software. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using ANOVA to evaluate the difference in the Nuclear Diameter, Cytoplasmic Diameter and Nuclear: Cytoplasmic ratio. Results: The results showed an increase in Nuclear Diameter from the less than 15 age group to 15-45 age groups. In the 15-45 age groups, there was a decline in CD when comparing the first group. There was further decline in Cytoplasmic Diameter and an increase in nuclear diameter in the more than 45 age group. It was also observed that the nuclear cytoplasmic ratio increases as age advances. Conclusion:The present study shows age related variations in the cells of buccal smears of healthy females.

Authors and Affiliations