Microgravity-induced programmed cell death in astrocytes.
Cultured astrocytes were submitted to simulated microgravity using a Fokker clinostat under continuous rotation (60 rpm) for 15', 30', 1h, 20h and 32h. Samples processing included (i) nuclear stainings using Propidium Iodide and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenilindole, dihydro chloride, (ii) immunohistochemical identification of Caspase-7, (iii) identification of DNA fragmentation using the terminal dUTP nick end labelling and (iv) Scanning Electron Microscope analysis. After 30' at simulated microgravity the glial cells showed morphological evidence of apoptosis: cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear blebs and fragmentation. The enzyme caspase-7 was present and DNA fragmentation was evident. After 32h the density of the cell population was much lower than that observed in controls.
Uva
B M
BM
Experimental, Environmental and Applied Biology Department, Genova, Universita di Genova, Genova, Italy. uvab@unige.it
Masini
M A
MA
Sturla
M
M
Tagliafierro
G
G
Strollo
F
F