engleski

Apoptosis in experimental mouse teratocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to determine the intensity of apoptosis in experimental teratocarcinoma during its development, especially during the period of its intensive growth (6th-8th week). The 7.5-dayold C3H embryos were transplanted under the kidney capsule of syngeneic adults. Tumors were isolated and weighted after 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8 weeks. The other group of animals were treated twice a week for 4 weeks with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (5azaC) immediately, at one week, two weeks or four weeks after transplantation. Apoptosis was analyzed by counting apoptotic cells per 10 microscopic fields on hematoxylin-eosin slides under X400 magnification. On statistical analyses, Student’s t-test was used. Results showed the apoptotic activity to rise during 8 weeks of teratocarcinoma development in untreated animals. No diff erence was observed in the number of apoptotic cells between differentiated and undifferentiated tissue compartments. In 6th week of development, apoptosis was significantly higher in differentiated compartment, whereas in 8th week it was higher in undifferentiated compartment. Apoptosis in 5azaC treated tumors seems to have occurred with no difference during development except for a more pronounced apoptosis in differentiated compartment in 5th week. Apoptosis was significantly lower in tumors treated with 5azaC in 6th and 8th weeks of development compared to controls. It is concluded that apoptotic activity rises during teratocarcinoma development in untreated animals, with a specific shift of apoptotic activity in the period of the most intense teratocarcinoma growth. The demethylating agent 5azaC slightly suppressed apoptotic activity during the most intense teratocarcinoma growth period as compared to untreated tumors.

teratocarcinoma; 5-azacytidine; apoptosis

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