M. Takeda et al., Induction of apoptosis by colchicine in taste bud and epithelial cells of the mouse circumvallate papillae, CELL TIS RE, 302(3), 2000, pp. 391-395
Apoptotic cells in the taste buds and epithelia of mouse circumvallate papi
llae after colchicine treatment were examined by the methods of in situ DNA
nick-end labeling, immunocytochemistry, and electron microscopy. After col
chicine treatment, numerous positive cells appeared in the taste buds by DN
A nick-end labeling, and some epithelial cells in the basal and suprabasal
layers in and around the circumvallate papillae also revealed positive stai
ning. Condensed and fragmented nuclei with a high density were occasionally
found in the taste bud cells and in the basal and suprabasal layer epithel
ial cells by electron-microscopic observation. An immunocytochemical reacti
on for tubulin revealed weak staining in taste bud cells, because of the de
polymerization of microtubules, and a decrease of the microtubules in the t
aste bud cells was observed by electron microscopy. These results indicate
that colchicine treatment of mice induces the apoptosis of taste bud and ep
ithelial cells in the circumvallate papillae and dorsal epithelial cells ar
ound the circumvallate papillae.