APOPTOSIS AND EXPRESSION OF DNA-REPAIR PROTEINS IN ISCHEMIC BRAIN INJURY IN MAN

WE examined the timing of apoptosis and the expression of the DNA repa ir proteins poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Ku80 in sections of frontal and temporal lobes from patients who had suffered severe brai n ischaemia due to a cardiac arrent. In situ end-labelling (ISEL) was used to detect apoptotic cells, and immunohistochemistry to assess PAR P and Ku80. ISEL of scattered neurons and glia was demonstrable predom inantly during the first 24 h after ischaemia. PARP and Ku80 immunorea ctivity increased markedly after cerebral ischaemia, PARP particularly in the regions of greatest susceptibility to hypoxic injury: the CA1 field of the hippocampus and the depths of noecortical sulci. The up-r egulation of PARP is in keeping with experimental observations concern ing the key role of this enzyme in mediating ischaemic cell death. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.