title: Cell death in developing human spinal cord.
abstract: Cell death in the developing human spinal cord was investigated in 5-12 week human conceptuses using immunohistochemical and TUNEL methods. Expression of pro-apoptotic (Fas-receptor, caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (bcl-2) markers and marker for internucleosomal fragmentation (TUNEL) were analysed in the cranial and caudal parts of the human spinal cord. In early developmental stages (5-6 weeks) of the cranial spinal cord, bcl-2 positive cells were seen in the ventricular zone and in the roof plate, while in the caudal part they were seen surrounding the central lumen. Subsequently, bcl-2 expression appeared in the basal plates of the grey matter and in the spinal ganglia, and from the seventh week on they also appeared in the intermediate horn of the grey matter. In the fetal period, bcl-2 expression appeared in the dorsal horns of the grey matter (9 weeks) but ceased in the ventricular zone (12 weeks) . In the trunk region, TUNEL-positive cells were found in ventricular and mantle zones along the whole length of the spinal cord. Caspase-3 positive cells and Fas-receptor positive cells appeared only in the grey matter of the cranial segments (head and trunk) of the spinal cord, but they were missing in the caudal parts. Caspase-3 dependant pathway, probably activated by Fas-receptor, seems to operate only in the cranial part of the human spinal cord. In the caudal (sacrococcygeal and tail) parts, cells seem to die by caspase-3 independent pathway. The interplay of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors may be associated with cranial spinal cord morphogenesis, adjustment of cells number and selective survival of neurons, while in the caudal regions these factors cause massive cell death associated with regression of the caudal spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, University of Split, PAK, KB Split, Spincićeva 1, 21000 Split, Croatia. kv@mefst.hr
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vilović
authors.forename: Ema
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilijić
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Glamoclija
authors.forename: Kresimir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bocina
authors.forename: Damir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sapunar
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saraga-Babić
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D019014:fas Receptor; D053148:Caspase 3