Histochemical Mapping of Mast Cells in Oral Dysplasia: A Window into Carcinogenesis in Rats

 Background: The most common cause of death is cancer. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the initial phase of more than 95% of oral cavity carcinomas. The earliest histological indication of cancer is dysplasia, which occur before squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) forms.  The risk of transformation to cancer is greater in dysplasia than in normal oral epithelium. Objectives: To demonstrate the correlation between the mast cell count and oral dysplastic lesions severity. Methods and Materials: the study involve 30 rats who randomly allocated into two groups: control and experimental groups. Formaldehyde and 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) were applied topically to the rats' buccal mucosa in order to cause carcinogenesis. Mast cell detection using toluidine blue stain. Results: the mast cell count (MCC) was more significant in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) (high- risk and low- risk dysplasia) than in control and most significantly expressed was in high-risk epithelial dysplasia. Conclusion: As OED severity increased, there was also a significant increase in the number of infiltrating mast cells (MCs). By reducing their tumor-promoting properties, MCs may be a viable target for the treatment of oral premalignant and malignant cancers.