Apoptosis in the developing human brain: A preliminary study of the frontal region


Anlar B., Atilla P., Cakar N., Tombakoglu M., Bulun A.

Early Human Development, cilt.71, sa.1, ss.53-60, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 71 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2003
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/s0378-3782(02)00116-0
  • Dergi Adı: Early Human Development
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.53-60
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: apoptosis, TUNEL method, human, brain, development, PROGRAMMED CELL-DEATH, CEREBRAL-CORTEX, IN-SITU, IDENTIFICATION, EXPRESSION, NEURONS
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Natural cell death due to apoptotic mechanisms has been described in various species. Relatively few studies examined this process in humans. Aim: To investigate the distribution of apoptosis in fetal brain tissue. Design: We examined apoptosis in the frontal region of human fetal brain by the TUNEL method in nine fetuses with no neurological conditions, gestational age 14-26 weeks, and three fetuses with structural anomalies of the nervous system (lumbar meningomyeloceles, n=2, hydrocephalus, n=1). Results: In normal fetuses, TUNEL-positive cells were most concentrated in the intermediate zone (IZ) and between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation; cortical apoptosis was not prominent. The fetus with hydrocephalus had increased numbers of TUNEL-positive cells while those with neural tube defects did not differ from normals. Conclusion: The definition of normally occurring apoptosis may provide a basis for further studies directed at central nervous system (CNS) malformations. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.