A Novel Approach to Develop an Animal Model for Oral Submucous Fibrosis

Abstract Epidemiological data has proved the association of consumption of areca nut with the causation of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF). OSMF is a chronic inflammatory disease with the potential for malignant transformation from 7% to 13%. The establishment of animal models makes it easier for researchers to focus on the therapeutic applications to combat this disease further. We developed and compared two areca nut extract (ANE) administration methods in male Swiss albino mice to establish OSMF. We used an invasive intra-buccal injection technique and compared it with a non-invasive oral droplet administration method. The duration of induction was around 12 weeks. Histopathological analysis was performed at regular intervals to assess the establishment of the disease. Our study showed that ANE administration through the oral droplet method was superior in all aspects compared to the intra-buccal injection technique. Through daily dosing, OSMF was established within 12 weeks, as evidenced by histopathological analysis. The non-invasive droplet method could simulate the absorption of areca nut seen in humans. The present study focuses on developing a novel droplet method and its comparison with the intrabuccal injection method of ANE administration to develop OSMF features in Swiss albino mice. Our results suggest that the oral droplet method is an efficient and non-invasive method to administer the ANE to develop OSMF. These findings will aid the inefficient development of OSMF animal models for interventional studies, including screening novel drugs in the reversal of the OSMF.