Intrahippocampal injection of paraquat produces apoptotic cell death which is prevented by the lazaroid U74389G, in rats.
Injection of paraquat, a redox-cycling compound, into the rat hippocampus produces limbic seizures and hippocampal damage. Here we report that a proportion of the neuronal cell death caused by the herbicide occurs via an apoptotic mechanism which appears to be mediated by oxygen free radicals. Adult male Wistar rats (n=12) received a single dose of paraquat (25 nmol/0.5 microl; 0.5 microl/min rate) and were sacrificed 24 h later. Paraquat caused DNA fragmentation, nuclear chromatin marginalization and compaction in all hippocampal subsectors, 24 h after its injection, as revealed by both the TUNEL procedure and hematoxylin eosin staining of coronal brain tissue sections. Pre-treatment with the free radical scavenger lazaroid U74389G (30 mg/kg given i.p. 30 min beforehand) significantly reduced paraquat-induced apoptosis, but did not protect against non apoptotic neuronal cell loss caused by the herbicide.
Melchiorri
D
D
Dept. Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Del Duca
C
C
Piccirilli
S
S
Trombetta
G
G
Bagetta
G
G
Nisticò
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006540:Herbicides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D010269:Paraquat / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011281:Pregnatrienes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006540:Herbicides; D011281:Pregnatrienes; C074965:U 74389F; D010269:Paraquat