Description of dog buccal epithelial cells to approximate their use as a biomarker of induced damage in the Buccal Micronucleus Cytome assay.

The Buccal Micronucleus Cytome assay (BMCyt) is effectively employed to quantify genetic damage in humans exposed to various xenobiotics. Dogs are proposed as valuable animal models for assessing the effects of these xenobiotics, potentially predicting adverse outcomes in humans. This study first provides a foundational understanding by describing the oral epithelium histology in two healthy canines, characterizing the tissue source for cytological analysis. Subsequently, the BMCyt was conducted on samples from the same buccal area of 36 purebred dogs comprising equal numbers of puppies and adults. The potential impact of piperazine, a common deworming xenobiotic, was also assessed by comparing samples taken before and 19 days after the first deworming. Histological analysis revealed the epithelium to be stratified parakeratinized, with some areas exhibiting keratinization. BMCyt results indicated that the frequency of micronuclei and cells with condensed chromatin was significantly higher (six-fold and two-fold, respectively; p < 0.05) in adult dogs compared to puppies, aligning with the expected age-related accumulation of genomic lesions. In piperazine-administered puppies, karyolytic cells were twice as frequent post-treatment (p < 0.05), suggesting the BMCyt assay can detect exogenous effects. Additionally, a BMCyt protocol using Feulgen staining followed by sequential Giemsa staining was evaluated in six adult German Shepherds; Giemsa noted for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. This comprehensive approach, combining detailed histological characterization with the BMCyt assay, establishes a robust basis for assessing genomic integrity in canines. These findings support the potential application of the canine BMCyt assay as a biomarker in both environmental and clinical studies.