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Apoptosis in liver damage produced by tunicamycin
J W Finnie1, S H Read, J G Swift
1Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Box 14, Rundle Street PO, Adelaide 5000.
Objective:
To determine whether apoptosis contributes to hepatocyte loss in tunicamycin poisoning.
Design:
Groups of four guinea pigs were given 400 microg/kg of tunicamycin subcutaneously and killed at 24 h intervals up to 72 h post-injection. Livers were examined by routine histological methods and ancillary techniques (TUNEL staining, endonuclease activation, caspase activity, and electron microscopy) to ascertain whether any hepatocyte injury was apoptotic.
Results:
Many hepatocytes exposed to tunicamycin showed evidence of apoptosis in the form of nuclear karyorrhexis with chromatin margination and crescent formation, TUNEL-positivity, DNA laddering, elevated caspase activity and apoptotic body formation.
Conclusion:
Tunicamycin caused the death of many hepatocytes in the livers of guinea pigs by apoptosis.
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