APOPTOSIS IS INDUCED BY 1-METHYL-4-PHENYLPYRIDINIUM ION (MPP(-STRIATAL COCULTURE IN RAT()) IN VENTRAL MESENCEPHALIC)

Apoptosis may be an important mechanism of cell death in some experime ntal cell death models as well as in human neurodegenerative disorders . We report evidence to indicate that 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP(+)) induces apoptotic cell death using ventral mesencephalic and striatal co-culture; Apoptosis was defined by characteristic changes i n nuclear morphology as revealed by hematoxylin-staining and DNA break s in situ, which were demonstrated histochemically by labeling 3'-OH e nds with biotinylated deoxyuridine through the action of terminal deox ynucleotidyltransferase, and DNA fragmentation, which was shown by aga rose-gel electrophoresis. Apoptosis may be an important mechanism of c ell death in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induc ed parkinsonism.