6-hydroxydopamine induced apoptosis of dopaminergic cells in the rat substantia nigra

The pathologic hallmark of Parkinson's disease is the dopaminergic cell dea th in the substantia nigra (SN). The cause of the cell death is, however, u nknown. Even the question on whether the cells die by apoptosis or necrosis has not been answered with certainty. In 6-Hydroxydopamine induced Parkins onian rats, the present study observed apoptotic nuclei from 1 day to 14 da ys after lesioning, using the TdT(terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase)-me diated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling method. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohis tochemistry and haematoxylin staining further revealed that these apoptotic cells are dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra. The results suggest that dopaminergic cells in SN undergo apoptosis in the rat model of Parkins on's disease. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.