Abstract

THE EFFECTS OF SMOKING ON MICRONUCLEUS FREQUENCIES IN BUCCAL CELLS OF HEALTHY IRAQI INDIVIDUALS

Dr. Farha A. Ali Shafi*

Abstract

The genotoxic damage that Tobacco smoke produces in smokerindividuals was evaluated using the micronucleus assay in exfoliatedbuccal cells. The study comprises 90 individuals of which 46 weresmokers and 44 were nonsmokers. We found the mean of themicronuclei frequency in exfoliated buccal cells was (10.18 ±1.07;12.89±1.85) in nonsmoker and smoker individuals respectively,which is substantially higher than the baseline of the micronucleiexpression in the general healthy population.There was a statisticallysignificant difference in the micronuclei expression between smokersand non-smokers(P<0.05). The mean value of micronucluei frequencyin youngest age group (20-30)years was (14.27±1.63) ;in oldest agegroup(31-40) it was (9.75 ±0.87),the difference was significant (P<0.01). We concluded thatthe higher frequency of micronuclei directly associated with the decrease of efficiency ofDNA repair and increase of genomic instability. Micronucleus assay in the buccal cell issensitive, practical, inexpensive method for monitoring genetic damage in human. Furtherresearches are needed not only for count micronuclei but also to capture the frequency ofapoptosis and necrosis cells to detect the further evaluation of cellular and tissue levelbiological damage.

Keywords: buccal cells, healthy, Iraqi, Micronucleus assay, smoking.