“A COMPARATIVE CYTOMORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE ORAL MUCOSA BETWEEN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND PARKINSON’S PATIENTS.”

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is the leading neurodegenerative disorder, with recent research focusing on identifying early signs that may precede its onset. This study aims to investigate alterations in the oral mucosa of PD patients using a stereological approach.

Objective: This study sought to assess the buccal mucosa in Parkinson’s patients through cytomorphometry. Specifically, it compared cellular perimeter (CP), nuclear perimeter (NP), and the ratio of nuclear diameter to cellular diameter (N/C) between individuals with Parkinson's disease and healthy controls. Buccal smears were collected from 170 individuals aged 50 and older, divided into two groups: 85 with Parkinson's disease and 85 healthy controls. Samples were  obtained using a wooden tongue spatula moistened with normal saline, spread on glass slides, fixed with Biofix spray, and stained using the Papanicolaou method. Microscopic images were analysed cytomorphometrically with an image analyser. Data were analysed using SPSS (version 23), employing independent samples t-tests for group comparisons and ANOVA for age group parameter analysis.

Results: A significant difference (p<0.01) in N/C ratio and Cp between healthy and Parkinson’s patients age noted. There was no significant difference in Np among the study groups. Conclusions: Cytomorphometric analysis showed significant differences in cytoplasmic perimeter and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratios between Parkinson's patients and healthy controls.Top of Form