Serotonin induces apoptosis in PGT-beta pineal gland tumor cells

Serotonin-induced neuronal cell death has been implicated as a possible cau se of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. To investigate the involvement of serotonin-induced apoptosis as a potential mechanism in the pathophysiology of serotonin-related diseases, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenyl indole) staining, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUT P-biotin nick end labeling) assay and flow cytometric analysis were perform ed using the immortalized pineal cell line PGT-beta. Through morphological and biochemical analyses, it was demonstrated that cell death induced by se rotonin in PGT-beta cells shows classic apoptotic features. These data sugg est that serotonin induces apoptosis in PGT-beta cells.