title: [Study of apoptosis in normal skin tissues].
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate the apoptosis in normal human skin by examination of all epidermal layers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The normal skin epidermis of 15 healthy subjects was investigated by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-X nick end labeling) technique. Apoptotic cells were evaluated in the germinative and differential compartments and stratum corneum. Only highly TUNEL-positive cells with typical morphological DNA fragmentation signs were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vital strata (except stratum corneum) of normal skin epidermis, 37.5% of all TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the germinative compartment and 41.7% in the granular layer of differential compartment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that apoptosis occurs in all layers of normal skin epidermis. It demonstrates that apoptosis is highly important in the renewal of cells and formation of epidermal structure within all compartments.
authors.affiliation: Vilnius University, Lithuania. g_jurate@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jūrate
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grigaitiene
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marciukaitiene
authors.forename: Audra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blaziene
authors.forename: Anzelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chomiciene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D000078404:Epidermal Cells; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology*