Apoptotic morphology in phenotypically defined dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra

In the preceding chapter we described three paradigms by which we have studied programmed cell death in the substantia nigra (SN) of living animals: natural cell death and death induced either by developmental injury to the target striatum or by dopamine terminal destruction with the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In each of these paradigms, in order to relate experimental investigations specifically to dopamine neurons, the dopaminergic phenotype must be identified in conjunction with the demonstration of apoptotic morphology. This identification is essential, because apoptosis has been recognized in diverse neuronal populations and in glia (1).