Objective
To investigate the correlation of expression of Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) and apoptosis in retinoblastoma (RB)．
Methods
The expression and distribution of Fas/FasL were detected by using immunohistochemical staining in 32 cases of RB． Light microsc opy (32 cases), electron microscopy (4 cases) and TdT mediated biotin-d UTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) (12 cases) were used to study apoptosis in RB．
Results
Apoptotic RB cells mostly located at RB regress area． Chromatin margination and apoptotic bodies were found in RB． TUNEL posi tive labeling cells especially located in tumor regress area． Positive immunola beling for Fas and FasL was found in all RB specimens． There was a highly signi ficant and positive correlation between the expression of Fas/FasL and apoptotic indices (AI) (Plt;0.01 or 0.001)．
Conclusion
The results suggest that apoptotic cell death is prevalent in RB and it may be one type of the most dominant cell death． Fas system may play an important role in oncogenesis and progression of RB, and the up-regulation of Fas system expression might induce RB cell apoptosis．
(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:21-23)
