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Ethylnitrosourea (ENU) is an alkylating agent and we previously clarified that it induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the fetal central nervous system (CNS). In the present study, we studied the expression of p53 and its transcriptional target genes to investigate the role of p53 in the ENU-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the fetal CNS following the administration to dams on day 13 of gestation (GD13). Although the enhancement of p53 mRNA expression was not detected by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), p53-positive signals were detected immunohistochemically in the nuclei of neuroepithelial cells of the ENU-administered fetuses from I hour after treatment (HAT) to 12HAT, and they were most intensive at 3HAT. On the other hand, p53-positive signals were scarcely detected in the control fetuses. Among the p53 target genes, the expression of p21, bax, cyclinG1 and fas mRNAs increased and peaked at 6HAT. In addition, strong immunoreactivity for p21 was detected in the nuclei of neuroepithelial cells of the fetuses at 6HAT. The expression of p53 protein increased prior to the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and transcription of its target genes was also activated. The present results suggest that ENU may induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the fetal neuroepithelial cells in a p53-dependent manner.
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