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A histological analysis of the early effects of alcohol and tobacco usage on human lingual epithelium
Author(s) -
Valentine J. A.,
Scott J.,
West C. R.,
St. Hill C. A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0714.1985.tb00543.x
Subject(s) - epithelium , alcohol , tobacco smoke , hyperplasia , nicotine , pathology , medicine , physiology , biology , environmental health , biochemistry
Macroscopically normal tongues were examined from 161 necropsies. Two types of lingual epithelium were investigated by morphometry and the results were statistically analysed in relation to known levels of alcohol and tobacco usage in each case. Alcohol and tobacco were each associated with a reduction in epithelial thickness brought about by a reduction in the maturation layer due mainly to cell shrinkage By contrast, the progenitor layer increased in size, due to hypertrophy rather than hyperplasia Changes occurred in each type of epithelium and were more severe with alcohol. There was no significant interaction between alcohol and tobacco. The structural changes appeared to be non‐specific reactions to local toxic effects of alcohol and tobacco. They could, if accompanied by equivalent functional decrements, indicate an increased vulnerability to carcinogens, whether or not these derive from alcoholic drinks or tobacco smoke.