Abstract

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a potentially malignant condition of the oral cavity, which is characterized by juxtra epithelial inflammation and progressive fibrosis at lamina propria as well as in deeper connective tissues of the oral cavity including oropharynx and upper third of the esophagus. A number of epidemiological surveys, case-series reports, large sized cross sectional surveys, case-control studies, cohort and intervention studies have provided an over whelming evidence that areca nut is the main etiological factor for OSF. Experimental evidence to establish the above proof of concept still lies on analytical challenges and limitations. Fibrosis-promoting activity of areca nut was tested in an animal model. The objective of the present study was to develop an in vivo rabbit model that showed characteristics features of collagen in OSF. The method used for the study includes Areca nut (treated), phenol (positive control) and PBS (negative control) were administered in the lower jaw of rabbits (three groups) with 6 days of interval for three months. Protein modification and DNA damage caused by areca nut in oral tissue and blood were analyzed by MALDI-TOF and comet assay respectively. It was found that the oral epithelium, treated with areca nut has shown progressive changes in thickness leading to palpation, ulceration, irregular growth and restricted mouth opening. DNA damage in blood was shown by the comet assay. Tissue protein modification was observed by MALDI-TOF with the help of SDS-PAGE, 2D-Gel electrophoresis and tryptic gel digestion. The study concludes stating that the model has the potential to compare the effect of areca nut with other carcinogen (phenol) and the negative control through the collagen modification and DNA damage. Thus this study provides further evidence that areca nut significantly contributes to the development of OSF in treated animals

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