C-JUN AND CYCLIN D1 PROTEINS AS MEDIATORS OF NEURONAL DEATH AFTER A FOCAL ISCHEMIC INSULT

C-JUN, a transcriptional activator, as well as cyclin D1, a key regula tor of the cell cycle, have been described in vitro as mediators of pr ogrammed neuronal death. After trophic factor deprivation, the activat ion of c-jun and cyclin D1 genes is considered as a necessary step wit hin the cellular machinery that leads to cell death. We show here that both c-Jun and cyclin D1 proteins are present in neurones within the infarcted area after experimental cerebral ischaemia in the mouse. Sin ce their presence was associated with DNA fragmentation revealed by th e TUNEL procedure, we propose that c-Jun and cyclin D1 are involved in the process of neuronal death.