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Caspase activity is involved in, but is dispensable for, early motoneuron death in the chick embryo cervical spinal cord. 2001

H Yaginuma, and N Shiraiwa, and T Shimada, and K Nishiyama, and J Hong, and S Wang, and T Momoi, and Y Uchiyama, and R W Oppenheim
Department of Anatomy, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan. h-yaginm@fmu.ac.jp

We examined the role of caspases in the early programmed cell death (PCD) of motoneurons (MNs) in the chick embryo cervical cord between embryonic day (E) 4 and E5. An increase in caspase-3-like activity in MNs was observed at E4.5. Treatment with an inhibitor of caspase-3-like activity, Ac-DEVD-CHO, for 12 h blocked this increase and revealed that caspase-3-like activity is mainly responsible for DNA fragmentation and the nuclear changes during PCD but not for degenerative changes in the cytoplasm. When a more broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor was used (bocaspartyl (OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone, BAF), the appearance of degenerative changes in the cytoplasm was delayed by at least 12 h. However, following treatment with either Ac-DEVD-CHO or BAF for 24 h, the number of surviving healthy MNs did not differ from controls, indicating a normal occurrence of PCD despite the inhibition of caspases. These results suggest that caspase cascades that occur upstream of and are independent of the activation of caspase-3-like activity are responsible for the degenerative changes in the cytoplasm of dying cervical MNs. These data also suggest that, although one function of caspases may be to facilitate the kinetics of PCD, caspases are nonetheless dispensable for at least some forms of normal neuronal PCD in vivo.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009842 Oligopeptides Peptides composed of between two and twelve amino acids. Oligopeptide
D002574 Cervical Vertebrae The first seven VERTEBRAE of the SPINAL COLUMN, which correspond to the VERTEBRAE of the NECK. Cervical Spine,Cervical Spines,Spine, Cervical,Vertebrae, Cervical
D002642 Chick Embryo The developmental entity of a fertilized chicken egg (ZYGOTE). The developmental process begins about 24 h before the egg is laid at the BLASTODISC, a small whitish spot on the surface of the EGG YOLK. After 21 days of incubation, the embryo is fully developed before hatching. Embryo, Chick,Chick Embryos,Embryos, Chick
D003374 Coumarins Synthetic or naturally occurring substances related to coumarin, the delta-lactone of coumarinic acid. 1,2-Benzopyrone Derivatives,1,2-Benzopyrones,Coumarin Derivative,Coumarine,1,2-Benzo-Pyrones,Benzopyran-2-ones,Coumarin Derivatives,Coumarines,1,2 Benzo Pyrones,1,2 Benzopyrone Derivatives,1,2 Benzopyrones,Benzopyran 2 ones,Derivative, Coumarin,Derivatives, 1,2-Benzopyrone,Derivatives, Coumarin
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004791 Enzyme Inhibitors Compounds or agents that combine with an enzyme in such a manner as to prevent the normal substrate-enzyme combination and the catalytic reaction. Enzyme Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Enzyme,Inhibitors, Enzyme
D000590 Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones Inhibitors of SERINE ENDOPEPTIDASES and sulfhydryl group-containing enzymes. They act as alkylating agents and are known to interfere in the translation process. Peptide Chloromethyl Ketones,Chloromethyl Ketones, Peptide,Ketones, Peptide Chloromethyl

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