1996 Volume 59 Issue 2 Pages 221-
Apoptosis, unlike necrosis, signifies programmed cell death. It is observed during the developmental process or with cell turnover. DNA fragmentation occurs in cells with apoptosis. Although this phenomenon is said to be inhibited in cancer cells, it may not be in benign neoplasms. We studied DNA fragmentation using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling method to elucidate apoptosis in pleomorphic adenoma. Although few cells were apoptosis-positive in the portion showing proliferation of epithelium in sheets, many were positive in the area showing myxoid or ductal structures. On the other hand, many apoptosis-positive cells were observed in ductal epithelial cells of the normal minor salivary gland, although few positive cells were seen in the acinus. This suggests that apoptosis tends to occur in ductal epithelial cells.
