Abstract
The effect of in vivo exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on glucocorticoid- and calcium ionophore-induced DNA fragmentation in rat thymocytes was investigated. TCDD dose-dependently abolished DNA fragmentation in response to both agents after 7 days of exposure. Analysis of the time dependence of the effect revealed that after 1 or 2 days TCDD potentiated DNA fragmentation in untreated and glucocorticoid-treated thymocyte suspensions relative to controls. The DNA fragmentation in untreated thymocyte suspensions from TCDD-treated rats was completely prevented by inhibitors that block glucocorticoid-induced thymocyte suicide. Our results suggest that TCDD-induced thymic atrophy is due to Ca2+-dependent endonuclease activation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1003-1008 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
Volume | 160 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 15 1989 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology