MOLECULAR METHODS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF APOPTOSIS IN TISSUES

There has been an upsurge in the interest paid to the process of apopt osis in recent years as a consequence of the realization that apoptosi s is important in the regulation of cell number in normal tissues and in a wide variety of diseases. However, the methods used to identify a poptosis in tissues have not progressed. In this review, the developme nt of novel methods for the identification of apoptosis in histologica l material is discussed. These methods rely on the degradation of DNA that is seen in apoptotic cells and that can be labeled by the incorpo ration of a biotinylated nucleotide, followed by an enzyme histochemic al demonstration method. The problems inherent in the use of these tec hniques are discussed, particularly relating to situations other than apoptosis where degraded DNA will occur. These methods will prove to b e a useful adjunct to morphological examination for the identification and quantification of apoptosis.