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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis
Published on: August 18, 2013
Fragmented DNA transport in dendrites of retinal neurons during apoptotic cell death
Akira Hara1, Masayuki Niwa, Masako Kumada
1Department of Tumor Pathology, Gifu University School of Medicine, 40 tsukasa-machi, Gifu 500-8705, Japan. ahara@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Movement of fragmented DNA in dendrites of retinal neurons during the apoptotic cell death was investigated. The time-course of the movement of fragmented DNA in dendrites of retinal neurons undergoing apoptotic cell death induced by intravitreal N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) injection were examined by in situ terminal dUTP-biotin nick end labeling of DNA fragments (TUNEL) method and fluorescence DNA detection technique by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). The inhibitory effect of axoplasmic transport inhibitor, vincristine was also tested on the NMDA-induced fragmented DNA transport. The movement of fragmented DNA from apoptotic nuclei toward peripheral ends of the dendrites of the retinal neurons was clearly demonstrated. The transport of fragmented DNA, but not fragmentation per se, was completely inhibited by the co-administration of vincristine.
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