APOPTOSIS IN THE RETINA

An enormous interest in cell death over the past several years has cat apulted apoptosis to the forefront of scientific research. Apoptosis h as been found to mediate cell deletion in tissue homeostasis, embryolo gical develop ment and immunologic function. It also occurs in patholo gical situations including cancer and AIDS, and is implicated in a var iety of ocular diseases. This review presents a brief history of apopt osis and the proper evidence needed in order to claim that apoptosis i s taking place. A summary and critique of important investigations con cerning the genetic and biochemical regulation of apoptosis is present ed, as well as a focus on other studies drawing a connection between a poptosis and cell death in physiological and pathological situations. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.