Methamphetamine causes widespread apoptosis in the mouse brain: evidence from using an improved TUNEL histochemical method

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dNTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) histochemistry is a sensitive method to expose DNA strand breaks i n apoptotic cells. but it is difficult to conduct on slide-mounted sections . By using a 80 degreesC/0.5% Triton X-100 pretreatment, we have developed a TUNEL histochemical approach with high specificity and sensitivity using sections from ischemic rat brains. Thereafter. methamphetamine (METH)-induc ed neuronal death was investigated in mice brains. The results showed that a single injection of 40 mg/kg METH caused neuronal death in several brain areas including the striatum, cortex (frontal, parietal, and piriform), ind usium griseum, medial habenular nucleus. and hippocampus. These results fur ther confirmed the presence of METH-induced deleterious effects in nondopam inergic neurons. The significance of these findings is also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.