Fraction of thymus that undergoes programmed cell death (PCD)

Range 10 - 15 %
Organism Mouse Mus musculus
Reference Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson SA. Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Cell Biol. 1992 Nov119(3):493-501. p.496 right column bottom paragraphPubMed ID1400587
Primary Source Tadakuma T et al., CD4+CD8+ thymocytes are susceptible to DNA fragmentation induced by phorbol ester, calcium ionophore and anti-CD3 antibody. Eur J Immunol. 1990 Apr20(4):779-84.PubMed ID1971792
Method P.493 right column 3rd paragraph:"In this work [investigators] describe the development of a method for an in situ labeling of DNA breaks in nuclei, in tissue sections processed through the routine procedure of histopathology, and its utilization for the study of tissue dynamics. The method is based on the specific binding of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) to T-OH ends of DNA, ensuing a synthesis of a polydeoxynucleotide polymer. After the exposure of nuclear DNA on histological sections by proteolytic treatment, TdT was used to incorporate biotinylated deoxyuridine at sites of DNA breaks. The signal was amplified by avidin-peroxidase, enabling conventional histochemical identification by light microscopy. The method of TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) was tested on a variety of tissues in which the migration of cells to their final destination is already delineated unequivocally or in tissues that are known for their active PCD."
Comments P.496 right column bottom paragraph:"TUNEL of the control thymocyte cultures at time 0 (not shown) or after 6 h without dexamethasone (Figs. 4 D and 5 A) confirms that a substantial cell death (10-15 %) already takes place in the thymus in vivo (primary source)." Primary source studied mice.
Entered by Uri M
ID 112334