When evidence for apoptotic cell death is sought in neurodegenerative
disease in adult animals or man or in the context of injury to the mature
nervous system, there needs to be a careful review of the experimental
methods applied to demonstration of apoptosis. Many studies now use a
combination of histological analysis, TUNEL staining for demonstration of
DNA cleavage, electrophoretic analysis of DNA for ladder pattern supportive
of internucleosomal DNA breaks, and finally, ultrastructural analysis
using electron microscopy.
11-13
Ultrastructural examination of tissue is an
important component of such a multidimensional approach and a sensitive
probe for the early morphological equivalents to the various steps of programmed
cell death and of degenerative cell death or cell necrosis.