Neurons die one way or another

A lot of the killing of sympathetic neurons occurs in the first week after birth. During that paring period, ∼50% of sympathetic neurons die due to a lack of nerve growth factor (NGF). Neurons deprived of NGF in vitro die through the classical cell death pathway, which includes the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and the resulting activation of caspases. Other factors can also promote neuronal survival, but it now seems that the method used to kill cells after withdrawal of these factors is not the same.

Yu et al. find that depriving sympathetic neurons in vitro of GDNF kills cells without mitochondrial involvement. Different caspases were activated...