Role of mitochondria in neuronal apoptosis

Apoptosis is a controlled form of cell death that participates in the demis e of neuronal cells during development, neurodegenerative disorders and exp osure to neurotoxic agents. In recent years, the mitochondria have emerged as being pivotal in controlling apoptosis, They house a number of apoptogen ic molecules that are released into the cytoplasm at the onset of apoptosis , These include cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor and various caspase s, Mitochondria also play an important role in intracellular Ca2+ regulatio n, which is crucial to excitotoxic neurodegeneration. Alterations in energy (ATP) production by mitochondria (due to hypoxia or mutations in genes enc oding mitochondrial proteins of the electron transport chain) can induce ap optosis in neurons or increase their sensitivity to apoptosis. Copyright (C ) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.