Murine male germ cell apoptosis induced by busulfan treatment correlates with loss of c-kit-expression in a Fas/FasL- and p53-independent manner.

Male germ cell apoptosis has been extensively explored in rodents. In contrast, very little is known about the susceptibility of developing germ cells to apoptosis in response to busulfan treatment. Spontaneous apoptosis of germ cells is rarely observed in the adult mouse testis, but under the experimental conditions described here, busulfan-treated mice exhibited a marked increase in apoptosis and a decrease in testis weight.