Time course and distribution of myocyte apoptosis induced by acute ischemia in rats / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: Myocyte apoptosis in rats can be induced by acute ischemia, but time course and distribution of myocyte apoptosis were unclear.METHODS:DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labling(TUNEL) assay were performed to evaluate apoptosis in mycardium exposed to 45 minutes, 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours ischemia and sham-operated rats in vivo.RESULTS: DNA ladders were clearly visible in agarose gel of DNA from ischemic myocardium exposed to 2 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours ischemia, and DNA ladders became more apparent with increasing duration of ischemia. TUNEL positive cells with apoptotic morphologic characters were present in above ischemia time, and apoptotic index increased with increasing ischemia time. The majority of TUNEL positive cells were myocytes. Apoptotic index was higher in subendocardium than in subepicardium(P