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Aging alters the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress

Nature Medicine volume 8, pages 3–4 (2002)Cite this article

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At one hour after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of MMS in the liver of the young rats, more than 700 per 1 × 105 cells bearing fragmented DNA (778 ± 116; n = 3) were present; however, in the same organ of the old animals no more than 200 per 1 × 105 of such apoptotic cells (188 ± 13; n = 3) were observed (Fig. 1a and 1b). At two hours after treatment, the number of apoptotic cells in the young rats increased to 1,300 per 1 × 105 cells (1388 ± 217; n = 3), whereas in the old rats the number remained similar at only 196 ± 52 cells per 1 = 105 cells (Fig. 1a and b). Induction of apoptosis in the liver of young rats and its absence in the old animals was also evident from nuclear morphology, as determined by the microscopic examination of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining (Fig. 1c). Interestingly, in the liver of old, untreated control rats, slightly more (190 ± 62; n = 3) apoptotic cells were detected than in the young counterparts (131 ± 32; n = 3). However, this increase was not statistically significant.

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Figure 1: Induction of apoptosis-induced nuclear DNA fragmentation in the liver of young but not in old rats after MMS treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Yousin Suh, Kang-Ae Lee & Sang Chul Park

  2. Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Woo-Ho Kim

  3. Cancer Research Institute Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Yousin Suh, Kang-Ae Lee, Woo-Ho Kim & Sang Chul Park

  4. Central Genome Center, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Korea

    Bok-Ghee Han

  5. Sam and Ann Barshop Center for Longevity and Aging Studies University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas,zz, USA

    Jan Vijg

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Suh, Y., Lee, KA., Kim, WH. et al. Aging alters the apoptotic response to genotoxic stress. Nat Med 8, 3–4 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0102-3

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