Expression of Fas and FASL gene in rats thymocyte apoptosis and its significance

Objective To detect the expression of FAS and FASL gene in rats thymocyte apoptosis,and to investigate the effect of apoptosis regulated gene in the rats thymocyte apoptosis.Methods Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling(TUNEL) method was used to detect the DNA fragmentation or double strand breaks.The expression of FAS and FASLgene in rats thymocyte apoptosis were induced by various dose of glucocorticoids,and the gene expression were determined by immunohistochemical staining.Results The TUNEL positive thymocytes were scattered throughout the cortex of GC-treated thymus.Immunohistochemical staining showed thatFAS expression decreased as the dose increased in the DEX-groups whereas the expression of FAS in the controls was increase.Significant differences were found between the DEX-groups and the controls(P0.05).The FASL expression increased as the dose increased in DEX-groups whereas in the controls FASL were overexpression.Significant differences were found between the DEX-groups and the controls(P0.05).Conclusion FAS and FASL played an important role in the glucocorticoids-induced thymocyte apoptosis.