Normal Programmed Cell Death of Developing Avian and Mammalian Neurons Following Inhibition or Genetic Deletion of Caspases

摘要

Caspase inhibitors fail to prevent the programmed cell death (PCD) of developing motoneurons (MNs) in the chick embryo in ovo, and genetic deletion of upstream (caspase-9) or downstream (caspase-3) caspase family members in mice does not prevent the PCD of developing MNs or other populations of target-dependent post-mitotic neurons. Neurons undergoing PCD in the absence of caspases exhibit a non-apoptotic, often TUNEL-negative, mode of morphological degeneration. Loss of caspase activity may delay but does not prevent the quantitatively normal occurrence of neuronal PCD.