Selective c-Jun overexpression is associated with ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in the developing cerebellum of the rat.

Immunohistochemistry to Bcl-2, Bax, c-Myc, c-Fos, Fos-related, c-Jun, Jun B and Jun D was used to study the involvement of these factors in ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis in the cerebellum of the developing rat. Selective c-Jun overexpression was observed during the whole process of radiation-induced cell death. Furthermore, c-Jun overexpression was restricted to apoptotic cells, as shown by double labeling with the method of in situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation and c-Jun immunohistochemistry. This is the first in vivo evidence that selective c-Jun overexpression is associated with apoptotic cell death in the developing nervous system following ionizing radiation.