title: Release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and DNA fragmentation after cold injury-induced brain trauma in mice: possible role in neuronal apoptosis.
abstract: Recent studies have shown that release of mitochondrial cytochrome c is a critical step in the apoptosis process. In this study, we examined the subcellular distribution of the cytochrome c protein after cold injury (CI), in which apoptosis is assumed to participate. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry showed cytosolic cytochrome c as early as 1 h after CI, and correspondingly, there was a reduction in mitochondrial cytochrome c after injury. Neuronal distribution of cytosolic cytochrome c was shown by double staining with a neuronal nuclear marker by immunohistochemistry. A significant amount of DNA laddering was detected 4 h after CI, and increased in a time-dependent manner. These data suggest that early cytochrome c release from mitochondria may contribute to apoptosis induction after traumatic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morita-Fujimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawase
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003574:Cytochrome c Group / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003574:Cytochrome c Group