Differential expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA in axotomized dorsal root ganglia of young and adult rats.

Bcl-2 and Bax have recently been identified as putative repressor and effector proteins respectively, in the cell death program of growth factor-deprived haematopoietic cell lines. Overexpression of bcl-2 in neuronal cell culture prevents apoptosis induced by removal of neurotrophic factors. In the present in vivo study the expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA has been investigated in dorsal root ganglia of young and adult rats using polymerase chain reaction. A high constitutive expression was observed for both genes in control ganglia. Unilateral transection of the sciatic nerve led to a dramatic decrease in bcl-2 mRNA levels in ganglia of young animals within 5 days following nerve lesion and a partial recovery thereafter. In contrast, the decline in bcl-2 mRNA was much less pronounced in axotomized ganglia of adults. The amount of bax transcripts did not change significantly in ganglia of both young and adult rats up to 20 days after nerve injury. The decrease in bcl-2 expression in dorsal root ganglia may be part of the molecular mechanism leading to neuronal cell death after axotomy-induced deprivation of neurotrophic factors. The age-dependent decline in the ratio of bcl-2 to bax gene products may explain the greater susceptibility of immature neurons to apoptosis.