Apoptosis in the developing human brain: a preliminary study of the frontal region.
BACKGROUND
Natural cell death due to apoptotic mechanisms has been described in various species. Relatively few studies examined this process in humans.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the distribution of apoptosis in fetal brain tissue.


METHODS
We examined apoptosis in the frontal region of human fetal brain by the TUNEL method in nine fetuses with no neurological conditions, gestational age 14-26 weeks, and three fetuses with structural anomalies of the nervous system (lumbar meningomyeloceles, n=2, hydrocephalus, n=1).


RESULTS
In normal fetuses, TUNEL-positive cells were most concentrated in the intermediate zone (IZ) and between 18 and 22 weeks of gestation; cortical apoptosis was not prominent. The fetus with hydrocephalus had increased numbers of TUNEL-positive cells while those with neural tube defects did not differ from normals.


CONCLUSIONS
The definition of normally occurring apoptosis may provide a basis for further studies directed at central nervous system (CNS) malformations.
Anlar
B
B
Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hacettepe University, Ankara 06100, Turkey. banlar@hacettepe.edu.tr
Atilla
P
P
Cakar
N
N
Tombakoglu
M
M
Bulun
A
A
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002452:Cell Count; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000502:physiology; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers