Aim: the aim of this the study was to evaluate the histopathological changes of the buccal mucosa in the advanced age of albino rats and linking these changes with increased tissue cancer tendency.
Materials and methods: fourteen adult male albino rats were randomly divided into two equal groups as follow: Group 1: 6 months old group. Group 2: 24 months old group. all animals were euthanized and buccal mucosa specimen were processed for hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemically prepared for e-cadherin gene expression.
Results: histological examination of buccal mucosal tissues (epithelium and lamina propria) of group 2 showed significant atrophic changes and sort of loss of the tissue integrity as compared to group I.
Significant downregulation of e -cadherin gene expression was also noticed in the aged group.
Conclusion: the present study concluded that oral tissues demonstrate progressive decline in their functional properties as a result of changes related to aging.