Apoptosis in the chicken bursa of fabricius induced by X-irradiation

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 58; no. 10; pp. 1001 - 1006
• Main Authors: Arai, S. (College of Dairying, Ebetsu, Hokkaido (Japan)), Kowada, T, Takehana, K, Miyoshi, K, Nakanishi, Y.H, Hayashi, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.10.1996; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: ADN; Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - radiation effects; BOLSA DE FABRICIO; BOURSE DE FABRICIUS; BURSA FABRICII; bursa of Fabricius; Bursa of Fabricius - radiation effects; Bursa of Fabricius - ultrastructure; CELLS; CELLULE; CELULAS; chicken; Chickens; CHICKS; CHROMATOGRAPHIE SUR GEL; CROMATOGRAFIA SOBRE GEL; DEATH; DNA; electron microscopy; GEL CHROMATOGRAPHY; IRRADIACION POR RAYOS X; IRRADIATION AUX RAYONS X; Male; MICROSCOPIA; MICROSCOPIE; MICROSCOPY; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; MORT; MUERTE; POLLITO; POUSSIN; Whole-Body Irradiation; X RAY IRRADIATION
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.58.10_1001

Immature B lymphocytes in the chicken bursa of Fabricius have previously been reported to undergo apoptosis by low doses of ionizing radiation. In the present study, newly hatched chickens were subjected to whole-body X-irradiation, and the bursa of Fabricius was examined at various postirradiation times by light and electron microscopy to obtain information on the change of ultrastructure of irradiated bursal cells as well as on the time course and dose-response for the induction of apoptosis. Histological examination by light microscopy showed that pyknotic cells started to increase in the bursa within a few hours after irradiation and the frequency of occurrence reached a maximum at 6 hr. An evident increase of the pyknotic cells in number was observed at a dose of as little as 1 Gy, and the frequency increased with increases in the dose, reaching over 90% Gy. Electron microscopy of the irradiated bursa revealed typical apoptotic morphology such as chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, formation of apoptotic bodies and phagocytosis of pyknotic cells. Induction of apoptosis was also confirmed by the appearance of a typical DNA ladder pattern on agarose gel. Thus, the present results demonstrate that the chicken bursal cells are hypersensitive to X-irradiation with regard to induction of apoptosis, and that the apoptotic bursal cells exhibit most of the ultrastructural features known to be typical of apoptosis