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The process of ultrastructural changes from nuclei to apoptotic body
T Ihara1, T Yamamoto, M Sugamata
1Department of Pathology, Tochigi Institute of Clinical Pathology, Japan.
Abstract:
There have been many reports on the formation of apoptotic bodies, but little is known about the cellular pathological processes and the morphological changes involved. We induced apoptotic cell death by administering nivalenol (NIV), a trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, and investigated the ultrastructural process of formation of apoptotic bodies. The thymus was examined by electron microscopy 6, 12, and 18 h after administration. Apoptotic cell death was induced in the thymus of NIV-treated mice. The nuclei became invaginated and pinched off to give fragments, and crescent-shaped spaces (CSS) were found around the nuclear envelopes of these cells at quite an early stage. In some of these spaces, myelin figures were observed. We divided the process of formation into four stages and characterized each of them. These are easily recognized in morphological stages and are also useful for clarifying the apoptotic mechanism.
Insights
Nivalenol (NIV) induces apoptotic cell death in mouse thymus. This study details the four-stage ultrastructural process of apoptotic body formation, revealing nuclear invagination and crescent-shaped spaces.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Toxicology
- Pathology
Background:
- Apoptotic body formation is a key feature of programmed cell death.
- The precise cellular mechanisms and morphological changes during apoptotic body formation remain incompletely understood.
- Nivalenol (NIV), a trichothecene mycotoxin, is known to induce cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural process of apoptotic body formation induced by Nivalenol (NIV).
- To characterize the morphological changes and cellular pathological processes involved in NIV-induced apoptosis.
- To elucidate the mechanism of apoptotic body formation through morphological staging.
Main Methods:
- Induction of apoptotic cell death using Nivalenol (NIV) in mouse thymus.
- Examination of thymus tissue using electron microscopy at 6, 12, and 18 hours post-administration.
- Detailed ultrastructural analysis of cellular and nuclear morphology.
Main Results:
- NIV administration induced apoptotic cell death in the mouse thymus.
- Early-stage morphological changes included nuclear invagination and pinching off into fragments.
- Crescent-shaped spaces (CSS) were observed around nuclear envelopes, sometimes containing myelin figures.
- A four-stage process of apoptotic body formation was identified and characterized.
Conclusions:
- Nivalenol (NIV) serves as an effective agent to study apoptotic body formation in vivo.
- The identified four stages provide a framework for understanding the morphological progression of apoptotic body formation.
- These findings contribute to a clearer understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying apoptosis.