SELECTIVE C-JUN OVEREXPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH IONIZING RADIATION-INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN THE DEVELOPING CEREBELLUM OF THE RAT

Immunohistochemistry to Bcl-2, Bar, c-Myc, c-Fos, Fos-related, c-Jun, Jun B and Jun D was used to study the involvement of these factors in ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in the cerebellum of the developi ng rat. Selective c-Jun overexpression was observed during the whole p rocess of radiation-induced cell death. Furthermore, c-Jun overexpress ion was restricted to apoptotic cells, as shown by double labeling wit h the method of in situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation and c-Ju n immunohistochemistry. This is the first in vivo evidence that select ive c-Jun overexpression is associated with apoptotic cell death in th e developing nervous system following ionizing radiation.