MOLECULAR METHODS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF APOPTOSIS IN TISSUES

There has been an upsurge in the interest paid to the process of apoptosis in recent years as a consequence of the realization that apoptosis is important in the regulation of cell number in normal tissues and in a wide variety of diseases. However, the methods used to identify apoptosis in tissues have not progressed. In this review, the development of novel methods for the identification of apoptosis in histological material is discussed. These methods rely on the degradation of DNA that is seen in apoptotic cells and that can be labeled by the incorporation of a biotinylated nucleotide, followed by an enzyme histochemical demonstration method. The problems inherent in the use of these techniques are discussed, particularly relating to situations other than apoptosis where degraded DNA will occur. These methods will prove to be a useful adjunct to morphological examination for the identification and quantification of apoptosis.