SINGLE-STRANDED-DNA AS AN IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL MARKER FOR APOPTOTIC CHANGE OF ISCHEMIA IN THE GERBIL HIPPOCAMPUS

The light and electron microscopic localizations of single stranded DN A (SSD) protein, a marker of apoptosis and programmed cell death, in t he gerbil hippocampus were examined by immunocytochemistry after trans ient brain ischemia. SSD-immunoreactive (IR) cells appeared from post- operative day 1 (PO 1) to PO 7 after 5- or 10-min ischemia. Immunoreac tion was recognized in the nucleus of the CA1 pyramidal neurons withou t remarkable morphological changes on PO 1. These findings suggest tha t SSD degradation can occur during delayed neuronal death in the CA1, preceding the appearance of double strand breaks, one of the character istic features of apoptosis. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.