Keratotic lesions of the oral epithelium.

Glycogen in the epithelium is interpreted as a sign of cell activity; its accumulation seems to take place gradually during cell migration. The oxido-reductase and hydrolytic enzyme-groups represent a sensitive indicator of changes in cell metabolism. The occurrence and intensity of glycogen, lactic and succinic dehydrogenases, NAD-cytochrome-c-reductase, alkaline and acid phosphatases were studied in 20 biopsy materials obtained from patients with keratotic buccal lesions. The results were compared with 20 biopsies from healthy oral mucosa. Variations were found in the localization and amount of glycogen, but no significant difference could be observed in the intensity of the oxido-reductase enzymes and alkaline phosphatase reactions. Acid phosphatase showed increased reactivity in most superficial layers of the keratinized epithelium.