The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the presence of argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) in exfoliated cells obtained from the buccal mucosa among crack and cocaine users and non-users by the AgNOR staining technique. Seventy-three males ≥ 18 years were categorized into two groups: 38 crack and/or cocaine users and 35 non-user volunteers. They were interviewed and responded a questionnaire regarding general health and drug addiction. Exfoliative cytology specimens were collected from the clinically intact buccal mucosa, and cytological preparations were fixed and stained by AgNOR technique. The mean number of AgNORs (p = 0.02) and the percentage of epithelial cells with more than 3 (p = 0.01) and 4 (p = 0.04) AgNORs/nucleus were significantly higher in the non-user group. In conclusion, the frequency and diversity of substances present in the drugs—cocaine, crack, and alcohol—consumed by the volunteers of this study may have influenced the number of AgNORs and the response to damage and consequent effect on protein synthesis.

这项研究的目的是分析和比较使用AgNOR染色技术从裂纹和可卡因使用者和非使用者中从颊粘膜获得的脱落细胞中的嗜银细胞核仁组织区（AgNORs）的存在。年龄在18岁以上的73名男性分为两组：38名使用可卡因和/或可卡因的使用者和35名非使用者。他们接受了采访并回答了有关一般健康和吸毒成瘾的问卷。从临床上完整的颊粘膜收集脱落的细胞学标本，并用AgNOR技术将细胞学制剂固定并染色。AgNOR的平均数（p  = 0.02）和上皮细胞百分比分别大于3（p  = 0.01）和4（p = 0.04）在非使用者组中，AgNOR /核显着更高。总之，本研究志愿者消耗的药物中可卡因，裂纹和酒精所含物质的频率和多样性可能影响了AgNOR的数量以及对损伤的反应以及对蛋白质合成的影响。