All questions of Cell Injury for PLAB/UKMLA Exam
The cleavage of DNA between nucleosomes into oligonucleosomes, typically in multiples of 180-200 base pairs, occurs due to the action of endonucleases that depend on Ca2+ and Mg2+. This process is a hallmark of apoptosis.
- Inhibitors of apoptosis: Bcl-2, Bcl-XL
- Promoters of apoptosis: Bax, BAK, P-53 activation
- Sensors of apoptosis: Ischemic injury, death of virus-infected cells, neurodegenerative diseases
- Bad, Bim, Bid, Noxa, PuMA
The morphologic characteristics typical of apoptosis encompass:
- Cell shrinkage: The cell exhibits a reduction in size, with dense cytoplasm and closely packed organelles.
- Chromatin condensation: This is the most distinctive feature of apoptosis.
- Formation of cytoplasmic blebs and apoptotic bodies.
Concerning option ‘a’: Plasma membranes are believed to stay intact until the later stages of apoptosis, similar to a normal cell. In relation to option “b”, eosinophilic cytoplasm is a common trait observed in both necrosis and apoptosis. For option “c”, nuclear moulding is described as “the shape of one nucleus adapting to the contours of an adjacent nucleus”. This is a feature found in malignant cells.
Understanding Coagulative Necrosis
Coagulative necrosis is a type of tissue death that typically results from ischemia or infarction, where blood supply is interrupted, leading to cell death while the basic tissue architecture remains relatively intact.
Characteristics of Coagulative Necrosis:
- Cellular Changes: In coagulative necrosis, cells appear swollen (cloudy swelling) initially, followed by loss of cellular detail. The cell outlines may still be visible, but the internal structures, including the nucleus, undergo significant changes.
- Common Causes: The primary cause is usually a lack of blood supply, often due to conditions like myocardial infarction or severe ischemia.
Occurrence in Organs:
- Brain: Coagulative necrosis is not typical here; instead, liquefactive necrosis is more common due to the high fat content and rapid cell death in brain tissue.
- Breast: While necrosis can occur in breast tissue due to various conditions, coagulative necrosis is not prominently featured.
- Liver: This organ is primarily affected by coagulative necrosis, especially in cases of ischemia or toxic injury. The liver can withstand some level of damage, but prolonged ischemia leads to this type of necrosis.
Conclusion:
- The correct answer is option C (Liver) because it is the organ where coagulative necrosis is predominantly observed. The liver’s susceptibility to ischemic injury makes it a prime candidate for this type of necrosis, distinguishing it from the brain and breast tissues where other forms of necrosis are more common.