EXPRESSION OF THE DEATH-ASSOCIATED GENE RP-8 IN GRANULE CELL NEURONS UNDERGOING POSTNATAL CELL-DEATH IN THE CEREBELLUM OF WEAVER MICE

RP-8 is one of several mRNAs elevated during apoptosis in immature thy mocytes. We used in situ hybridization to look for RP-8 mRNA in the ce rebella of weaver mice. In the weaver mouse cerebellar granule cells f ail to differentiate and instead die during the first two weeks of pos tnatal development [30]. We demonstrate that the dying cells exhibit D NA degradation, a characteristic feature of apoptosis. RP-8 is express ed in the weaver cerebellum during the period of granule cell death, a nd is limited to cells in the same region where apoptotic granule cell s are located. Thus, RP-8 expression, first associated with PCD in thy mocytes, correlates with granule cell death in the weaver cerebellum.