No abstract available.
Animals* ; Brain* ; Hypothermia* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling* ; Models, Animal*

OBJECTIVE: To know whether leiomyomas come from increased proliferation or from decreased apoptosis of uterine muscular cells, and compare the results with the menstrual cycles and expression of ER/PR. METHODS: Between Mar. 2003 to Jun. 2003, the authors got 15 leiomyomatous and normal myometrial tissues from the patients who had undergone hysterectomy transabdominally or laparoscopically. As soon as they were excised, these tissues had been sent to the pathologic department to be stained by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) to determine apoptotic index (A.I.), and immunohistochemistry of Ki-67 to do Ki-67 immunoreactivity index (K.I), and ER/PR. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference of A.I. between leiomyoma and normal myometrial tissues But there was a significantly higher Ki-67 immunoreactivity index in leiomyoma rather than normal myometrial tissue. The increase of K.I. in leiomyomas has the reverse correlation with age, but was not statistically correlated with the menstrual cycles. There was no significant different pattern of expressions of ER/PR between in leiomyoma and in normal uterus. CONCLUSION: The main reason the leiomyomas come from may be increased proliferation instead of decreased apoptosis of leiomyoma cells. Although leiomyomas were known to be influenced by sex hormone, there was no solid evidence of increase of K. I. correlated with menstrual cycle or expression status of ER/PR in leiomyomas. Maybe there are another factors such as age that control the pathogenesis of leiomyoma rather than hormones or their receptors.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Proliferation* ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Leiomyoma* ; Menstrual Cycle* ; Uterus

AIMTo investigate the relationship between germ cell degeneration and apoptosis in cryptorchid rats.

METHODSThirteen 21-day-old Wistar rats were made unilaterally cryptorchid by closing the left inguinal canal. At day 30 (Group 1, n=6) and day 60 (Group 2, n=7) after operation, the testes were removed for histopathological examination. The controls (n=8) were sham operated and were sacrificed at day 60. Germ cell apoptosis was assessed by means of the TUNEL method.

RESULTSSpermatogenesis was arrested and the testicular and seminiferous tubular diameters were significantly reduced In the unilateral undescended testes (UUTs) compared with the contralateral descended testes (CDTs) and the control rats. However, atrophic changes, pathological calcification, necrosis of seminiferous tubule, and absence or sloughing of germ cells were not found in all the animals. The spermatocytes were the main type of germ cells undergoing apoptosis in all the groups. In the UUTs, there was a significant and time-dependent increase in the mean apoptotic index. By 60 days after surgery, increased apoptosis in germ cells was also observed in the CDTs.

CONCLUSIONApoptosis is the predominant mechanism of germ cell death rather than atrophy and necrosis in cryptorchidism.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cryptorchidism ; pathology ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spermatocytes ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Pilomatricoma is a benign epidermal appendage tumor with differentiation toward hair matrix cells. Histologically, pilomatricoma comprises masses of immature basophilic cells, few transitional cells, and clusters of shadow cells. The mechanism leading to the formation of shadow cells is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the expression of p53, bcl-2, Ki-67, and apoptotic rate for the investigation of the cell turnover and cell differentiation within pilomatricoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining(LSAB technique) using monoclonal antibodies including bcl-2, p53, and Ki-67(MIB-1) is performed on skin biopsy specimens of pilomatricoma, and TUNEL staining for detecting apoptotic cells is also performed. RESULTS: The expression of Ki-67 and bcl-2 is noted in basal basophilic cells more than overlying basophilic cells. The p53 protein is observed to be alike on basal and overlying basophilic cells. But apoptotic cells are only expressed in transitional cells. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggests that high proliferative area, such as basal basophilic cells manifested by over-expression of Ki-67 and bcl-2, is regulated by the p53 protein inducing apoptosis. Thereafter, basophilic cells may progress to shadow cells through apoptotic transitional cells by the action of p53 protein.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Apoptosis* ; Basophils ; Biopsy ; Cell Differentiation ; Hair ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Pilomatrixoma* ; Skin

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of apoptosis in the contact lens-worn cornea and the pathophysiologic influence of the contact lens to the rabbit corneal tissue, We had 4 experimental groups; soft contact-worn, RGP contact-worn, mechanically scraped and ormal control groups. The corneas were prepared for routine H & E staining and apoptosis evaluation. Keratocyte and epithelia cell morphology of the cornea were examined in each group using light microscopy. Nuclear DNA fragmentation was detected with the TUNEL assay for 3`-hydroxy DNA ends. The apoptosis assay demonstrated: (a) both the normal cornea and the contact lens-worn cornea exhibited no apoptosis, (b) silight degree of apoptosis was corneal apoptosis detected n deratocytes of the soft contact lensworn cornea, and (c) the anterior stromal keratocytes were found to be frequently undergoing apoptotic change in the scraped cornea. Theses findings suggest that the possible hypoxia induced by soft contact lens-wearing may have a role in apoptosis of anterior stromal keratocytes. To be clinically significant, we need more evaluations and long term studies of apoptosis in contact lens-worn cornea.
Anoxia ; Apoptosis* ; Cornea* ; DNA ; DNA Fragmentation ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Microscopy

The authorsinvestigated the effects of UV-B and amniotic membrane graft about PRK induced inflammatory cell infiltration into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Total 20 white rabbits were divided into 5 groups; 1)mechanical epithelial removal, 2)epithelial removal and UV-B irradiation, 3)PRK only, 4) PRK and UV-B irradiation, 5)Amniotic membrane graft after PRK and UV-B irradiation. All corneas were harvested after 24hrs. H & E stain for PMNs infiltration, MDA immunohistochemical stain for lipid peroxidation and TUNEL stain for keratocyte apoptosis were performed. UV-B had little effect on infiltration of inflammatory cell into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Amniotic membrane suppressed infiltration of PMNs into corneal stroma, lipid peroxidation and keratocyte apoptosis. Environmental UV-B exposure should not be avoided after PRK. Amniotic membrane graft is beneficial to reduce keratocyte apoptosis and related corneal haze.
Amnion* ; Apoptosis* ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inflammation* ; Lipid Peroxidation* ; Membranes ; Rabbits ; Transplants

PURPOSE: Although immunohistochemically detectable metallothionein (MT) overexpression has been described in proliferation epithelial tumor cells, the clinical significance of the expression remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the present article is focused on evaluating the possible significance of MT expression in colonic adenocarcinoma and its relationship with p53 overexpression, Topoisomerase II-alpha as new cell proliferating marker and apoptosis. METHODS: The following formalin-fixed paraffin embedded surgical or biopsied samples were immunohistochemically stained for MT, p53 and topoisomerase II-alpha, and performed in situ TUNEL method for evaluation of apoptotic cell ; normal control mucosa (78 cases), tubular adenomas (20 cases) and adenocarcinomas with various degree of differentiation (78 cases). RESULTS: The MT immunohistochmical reactivity was decreased in colonic adenocarcinoma than that of normal glandular epithelial and tubular adenoma, with the frequency of MT expression in colonic adenocarcinoma depending upon tumor differentiation only. But the frequency of p53 expression was correlated with T-stage, lymph node metastasis and clinical staging, while topoisomerase II-alpha expression and apoptosis in colonic adenocarcinoma were correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical staging. The immunohistochemical expression of MT and p53 expression in colonic adenocarcinoma was inversely correlated. Also, the inverse correlation between MT expression and expression of toposiomerase II-alpha indices and apoptotic indices were noted. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that MT expression may play a role in proliferative activity and apoptosis in colonic adenocarcinoma. Although MT expression is correlated to tumor differentiation, further studies of a possibility of prognostic factor, such as p53, are required for the determination of significant relationships in other clinicinopathologic indices.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Adenoma ; Apoptosis* ; Colon* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymph Nodes ; Metallothionein* ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether Fas-L expression is associated with increased apoptotic induction of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in human gastric carcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The author analysed 38 cases of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) and 61 cases of advanced gastric carcinoma (AGC) who received gastric resection, in whom the number of diffuse type was 38 cases and the number of intestinal type was 61 cases. The author used immunohistochemical staining for Fas, Fas-L and CD45, and TUNEL in situ apoptosis detection kit. TIL were detected by CD45 and apoptosis of TIL were detected by CD45 expression and TUNEL positivity on serial histologic sections. RESULTS: Fas-L was localized to neoplastic cells in 61% (23/38) of EGC group and 66% (40/61) of AGC group. The extent of Fas-L expression was variable, with both Fas-L positive and negative neoplastic region occuring within tumors. TIL adjacent to Fas-L expressing tumor region were decreased in number and TIL adjacent to FasL-negative tumor region were increased in number; apoptotic induction of TIL showed just the opposite pattern (p<0.05). Fas expression was found essentially homogeneously throughout the tumor mass independent of tumor stage. Fas expression showed 64% (39/61) of intestinal type and 68% (26/38) of diffuse type. Labeling indices for tumoral apoptosis in EGC and AGC were 6.72% and 7.13%, respectively and this difference was statistically insignificant. Co-expression of Fas-L and Fas, which occurred over large areas of the tumors, did not result in an enhanced rate of tumor cell apoptosis. In addition, factors such as tumor stage and other prognostic factors were not concerned in Fas and Fas-L expression, number of TIL and apoptotic induction. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest Fas-mediated apoptotic depletion of TIL in response to Fas-L expression by stomach cancers, and provide the evidence to support the Fas counterattack as a mechanism of immune escape in gastric cancer. In addition, gastric carcinoma cells of the intestinal and diffuse type did not differ in their expression of the apoptotic receptor Fas.
Apoptosis* ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Stomach Neoplasms ; United Nations

BACKGROUND: The studies on cryopreserved arterial allograft have been focused on cooling methods, pre-treatment, cryoprotectant agents, and preservation temperature. But recently, several studies have reported that thawing methods also play an important role in the occurrence of macroscopic and microscopic cracks. This study was designed to investigate the cell injury after thawing, using a rabbit model to clarify the effect of thawing methods on cryopreserved arteries. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Segments of the rabbit aorta were obtained and divided into 3 groups (n=60) according to whether the specimens were fresh (control, n=20), cryopreserved and rapidly thawed (RT) at 37oC (n=20), or cryopreserved and subjected to controlled, automated slow thawing (ST)(n=20). Cell damage was established using the TUNEL method and the morphological changes were also evaluated. RESULT: In the group that was rapidly thawed, the expression of TUNEL (+) cells increased significantly more than in the slowly thawed group. In addition, the endothelial denudation, microvesicles and edema were significant in the rapidly thawed group compared with those changes in the slowly thawed group. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the rapid thawing method may be one of the major causes of cellular damage and delayed rupture in cryopreserved arterial allografts. The expression of TUNEL (+) cells and structural changes were significantly low in the slowly thawed group, which might have contributed to the improvement of graft failure after transplantation.
Allografts ; Aorta* ; Arteries ; Cryopreservation ; Edema ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Rupture ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To verify the effect of Matrigel, a ECM complex from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm(EHS) mouse sarcoma on the preimplantation development and apoptosis of mouse fertilized eggs. METHOD: Late Pronucleus stage eggs were cultured through the blastocyst stage in the presence of Matrigel (0.5%, v/v). Characteristics of apoptosis and cell number assessed by Hoecst staining and TUNEL labeling at the blastocyst stage, respectively. RESULTS: Morphological development, number of cells per embryo was significantly increased but rate and number of TUNEL positive nuclei of the embryo were decreased in the presence of Matrigel. CONCLUSION: This result suggested that at low concentration of Matrigel improves both viability and morphological development in the preimplantation mouse embryos.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Blastocyst ; Cell Count ; Eggs ; Embryonic Structures* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Mice* ; Ovum ; Sarcoma ; Zygote