Radiation-induced apoptosis in thymocytes: inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate and zinc.

Apoptosis is a process of physiological cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, loss of membrane asymmetry, mitochondrial alterations and cell lethality. In the present study, apoptosis induced in thymocytes by gamma irradiation is evaluated by flow cytometry, by a diphenylamine colorimetric method and by gel electrophoresis. Treatment of thymocytes with diethyldithiocarbamate or zinc shows that these compounds can inhibit radiation-induced apoptosis.

DNA fragmentation induced in lymphocytes by gamma irradiation or dexamethasone: inhibition by diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC), potentiated by zinc.

Apoptosis is a process of physiological cell death characterized by DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, loss of membrane asymmetry and cell lethality. In the present study, apoptosis induced in thymocytes by dexamethasone or gamma irradiation is evaluated by flow cytometry, gel electrophoresis and other techniques. Treatment of thymocytes with DTC or zinc shows that these products can inhibit radiation- or dexamethasone-induced apoptosis.