The mouse cpp32 mRNA transcript is early up-regulated in axotomized motoneurons following facial nerve transection.
In adult mice, axotomy of facial motoneurons induces apoptotic cell death. Cpp32, Bax and Bcl-xl are regulators of this type of cell death in the central nervous system. Using in situ hybridization, we have studied the kinetics of expression of cpp32, bax and bcl-xl mRNAs after a fatal lesion of the facial nerve in wild-type and Bcl-2 transgenic mice, where cell death is known to be prevented. In both strains of mice, cpp32 mRNA was up-regulated by 12 h following axotomy whereas changes in bax mRNA expression occurred later (from 3 days). These results provide information on the timing of molecular processes involved in cell death and could be helpful in determining a critical period during which they may be blocked.
de Bilbao
F
F
University Hospital Geneva, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Switzerland. fabienne.debilbao@medecine.unige.ch
Guarin
E
E
Nef
P
P
Dubois-Dauphin
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D019771:Axotomy; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
C494827:Bax protein, mouse; C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases