title: [Factors that lead to death of neurons in neurodegenerative diseases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this paper was to review information related to the various factors which may trigger the mechanisms of cell death, induced or programmed, which take place in the nervous system and their relationship with the aetiopathogenesis of the neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In recent years it has been recognized that cell death may be not only the consequence of accidental damage but also a sign of a suicide programme. This form of death is currently known as apoptosis. It is a process which is morphologically distinct from accidental cell death or necrosis. It does not cause an inflammatory response. This type of death is not only involved in the development and haemostasis of tissues, but also in setting off neuronal degeneration in experimental models of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the cell death occurring in neurodegenerative diseases there is more than one induction mechanisms. Understanding the factors which trigger cell death, and the chain of events leading to this, gives grounds for the design of new pharmacological strategies for the treatment of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Centro Internacional de Restauración Neurológica, CIREN, La Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavón
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Fonseca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres-Montoya
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorigados
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez-González
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macías
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death; D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009336:Necrosis; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018846:Excitatory Amino Acids; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002118:Calcium