Upregulation of P53 protein in rat heart subjected to a transient occlusion of the coronary artery followed by reperfusion.

The accumulation of p53 protein in cardiomyocyte nuclei was immunohistochemically demonstrated by the pronounced staining of p53 antibody in 4 h-reperfused ventricular tissue after a 45-min coronary occlusion. The occurrence of apoptosis in the reperfused ventricular tissue was evidenced by positive TUNEL staining and DNA laddering on agarose gels.