Developmental apoptosis in the spinal cord white matter in neonatal rats.
We investigated developmental apoptosis in the white matter of the cervical spinal cord at postnatal days 2, 5, and 8. Apoptotic cells were labeled using TUNEL and caspase-3 immunostaining. Apoptotic cells were diffusely distributed throughout the white matter of the spinal cord. The total amount of apoptotic cells in the cervical spinal cord white matter was related to postnatal age, with the lowest at P2 (mean 7.9, SD 5.6) and the highest at P8 (mean 109, SD 21.4). Using double immunostaining for ED-1 and O4, apoptotic cells were identified as microglia and oligodendrocytes.
De Louw
A J A
AJ
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. adl@sneu.azm.nl
Van De Berg
W D J
WD
De Vente
J
J
Blanco
C E
CE
Gavilanes
A W D
AW
Steinbusch
H P J
HP
Steinbusch
H W M
HW
Troost
J
J
Vles
J S H
JS
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D053331:Ectodysplasins; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism
D053331:Ectodysplasins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases