[Morphological characteristic of apoptosis and its significance in neurogenesis].

On the basis of the literature data and the results obtained by the authors, modern concepts on the role of apoptosis in the regulation of a quantitative and qualitative constancy of the cells in the developing brain, is critically analyzed. The detailed description of morphological features and mechanisms of various phases of apoptotic death of neurons is given. Apoptosis affects the ordering of connections in the neural circuits and is involved in the pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders - epilepsy, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The problem of the NO-ergic mechanism interaction with a cell in the apoptosis realization is examined. The data obtained support the view that NO should be considered as a cytotoxic factor inducing apoptosis. On the basis of ultrastructural features of postmitotic immature neurons, the presence of the apoptotic and necrosis-like (NO-dependent) ways of the natural cell loss during the differentiation process, is proposed.