Localization of bcl-2 in the mouse brain: An anatomical study by immunohistochemistry

The presence of bcl-2 has been demonstrated in neurons of the developing adult brain of different species, including humans, the monkey, rat, rabbit and mice. Although bcl-2 expression in mouse embryo and its distribution in the central nervous system during development have been described in the cerebellar cortex and hippocampus, its distribution in the entire adult mouse brain has not yet been described. In the present work we describe bcl-2 expression in the mouse brain by immunohistochemistry and we compare it with other species showing similar patterns. We found that limbic areas have the highest bcl-2 density, suggesting a protective role of this protein in these regions.