CALCIUM IONOPHORE A-23187 INDUCES APOPTOTIC CELL-DEATH IN RAT THYMOCYTES

Apoptotic cell death was induced in rat thymocytes on exposure to calc ium ionophore A 23187 (100 mu m) for 24 h as observed from morphologic al changes and DNA fragmentation into oligonucleosomal ladder. The cel l death was independent of de novo syntheses of protein. However, the involvement of c-Myc, c-Jun, poly ADPR polymerase and antioxidant enzy mes CuZn SOD and catalase was observed.