Iodine penetration and glycogen distribution in vital staining of oral mucosa with iodine solution

Abstract

Objective: To assess and compare iodine penetration and glycogen distribution in a vital staining of oral mucosa with iodine solution.

Study design: Twenty samples were obtained including both iodine-stained and -unstained mucosa. Intraepithelial iodine was examined using frozen sections. Glycogen distribution was assessed by periodic acid-Schiff staining and transmission electron microscopy.

Results: Iodine accumulation was observed mainly superficially and in the upper and middle thirds of prickle cell layers, with glycogen in almost the whole epithelium except for the para- and basal cell layers. The pattern of iodine and glycogen distribution was classified into 3 types (full-, surround-, and scatter-type). The iodine color was mainly derived from the cells with full- and surround-type distributed glycogen in the upper half of the oral epithelium.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that iodine penetrated into nonkeratinized oral epithelium and reacted mainly with intraepithelial glycogen homogeneously distributed in the cytoplasm.