Several studies have reported the occurrence and significance of programmed cell death (apoptosis) of testicular germ cells in mammals. In those studies, apoptotic germ cells were identified by morphological criteria or by in situ end labeling (TUNEL) and were enumerated from histological sections by semi-quantitative and time-consuming techniques. In the present study, we have established a fl...

We have examined the consequences of Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) irradiation in the thallus of the lichen Physcia semipinnata (J.F.Gmel) in terms of cell viability and apoptotic-like formation. UV-B induced oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL assay and this is the first study showing DNA fragmentation in thalli. The intensity of TUNEL-positive cells after exposure to UV-B at doses...

The growth plates of the femoral head of Japanese white rabbits aged 5, 10, 15 and 20 weeks were stained for apoptotic and proliferating chondrocytes using the TUNEL and PCNA antibody staining techniques. Both TUNEL- and PCNA-positive chondrocytes were detected in all of the specimens. The positive ratios of both stainings were calculated for the whole plate and for the resting, proliferating a...