Increased expression of sulfated glycoprotein-2 and DNA fragmentation in the pancreas of copper-deficient rats.
Recent morphological studies from our laboratory have shown that copper deficiency-induced pancreatic involution in rats is secondary to apoptosis (M. S. Rao, A. V. Yeldandi, V. Subbarao, and J. K. Reddy, 1993, Am. J. Pathol. 142, 1952-1957). To corroborate the morphological findings, we have examined pancreases from copper-deficient rats for expression of sulfated glycoprotein-2 (SGP-2) mRNA and DNA fragmentation, which are considered as specific markers of apoptosis. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the DNA extracted from pancreases of rats maintained on copper deficient diet (CUDD) for 5 and 7 weeks showed characteristic "ladder" pattern, whereas DNA from control rats and rats maintained on CUDD for 3 weeks showed no fragmentation. These findings correlated well with the histological changes. Northern blot analysis of total RNA revealed a marked increase in the expression of SGP-2 mRNA at 5 weeks followed by a gradual decrease at 6 and 7 weeks. These results further support that the mechanism of copper deficiency-induced pancreatic involution is through apoptosis.
Ide
H
H
Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Yeldandi
A V
AV
Reddy
J K
JK
Rao
M S
MS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051152:Clusterin; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344
D051152:Clusterin; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003300:Copper