Brain Malformation and Apoptosis

Abstract

Apoptosis is a physiological phenomenon that occurs extensively in the developing central nervous system (CNS). The death of neural cells is strictly controlled by the bcl-2 family and other regulatory systems. In particular, neurons are prevented from undergoing apoptosis by multiple mechanisms such as their intracellular control device and neurotrophic factors delivered by their innervating neurons, target cells and surrounding glial cells. A defect in any of these may cause a CNS malformation due to massive neuronal death.