APOPTOSIS IN BRAIN AND GUT TISSUE OF MICE FED A SEED PREPARATION OF THE CYCAD LEPIDOZAMIA-PEROFFSKYANA

Apoptosis (programmed cell death) was identified in histological secti ons of brain and gut tissue of adult mice fed seed preparations from t he cycad Lepidozamia peroffskyana. This form of cell death was also fo und at high levels in brain tissue from neonatal mice born from a cyca d-fed mother. The discovery was made during re-appraisal of archival t issue from a study of toxic properties of L. peroffskyana. Ingestion o f appropriately prepared food or medicine derived from another cycad, Cycas circinalis, is thought to be associated with several motor neuro ne and other neurodegenerative disorders of some Pacific island inhabi tants. Apoptosis is cell death under gene control. From the present st udy, presence of apoptosis in brain tissue after cycad toxicity may pr ovide a link between cycad ingestion and development of neurodegenerat ive disorders and may provide a novel explanation for localization of some neurodegenerative disorders, as some inhabitants may have a genet ic susceptibility to apoptosis induced by cycad toxicity. (C) 1994 Aca demic Press, Inc.