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Using TUNEL in Combination with an Active Caspase-3 Immunoassay to Identify Cells Undergoing Apoptosis in Preimplantation Mammalian Embryos

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Germ Cell Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 254))

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Abstract

The term apoptosis was coined in a now classic paper by Kerr et al. in 1972 (1), which summarized the morphological features observed in electron micrographs of cells dying by a process that had been previously termed shrinkage necrosis. It was noted that these features, such as cell shrinkage, nuclear condensation, and fragmentation, along with cellular blebbing and fragmentation, were seen in various tissues and under physiologically normal circumstances. Some features, such as the maintenance of intact organelles, an apparent healthy cytoplasmic membrane, lack of localized inflammation, and frequent phagocytosis of the cell fragments by neighboring cells, suggested that this phenomenon is a normal part of cell turnover and unassociated with large-scale cell damage. The common features of this phenomenon suggested that it was a process under genetic control. The recognition of cells undergoing removal from tissues during normal mammalian embryo development, and cells known to be deleted during the normal development of the nematode Caenorhaditis elegans has confirmed this hypothesis (2).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cryobiology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Comparative Medicine Center, University of Missouri at Columbia, Columbia, MO

    Steven F. Mullen

  2. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Comparative Medicine Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO

    John K. Critser

Authors
  1. Steven F. Mullen
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  2. John K. Critser
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO

    Heide Schatten

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc.

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Mullen, S.F., Critser, J.K. (2004). Using TUNEL in Combination with an Active Caspase-3 Immunoassay to Identify Cells Undergoing Apoptosis in Preimplantation Mammalian Embryos. In: Schatten, H. (eds) Germ Cell Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 254. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-741-6:393

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-741-6:393

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-257-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-741-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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