Cell death in early neural life

Programmed cell death is a relevant process in the physiology and pathology of the nervous system. Neuronal cell death during development is well characterized, and studies of this process have provided valuable information regarding the regulatory mechanisms of cell death in the nervous system. In the last few years, cell death occurring at earlier developmental stages and affecting proliferating neuroepithelial cells and recently born neuroblasts has been recognized. In this review we cover the observations on cell death in the early, proliferating stages of vertebrate neural development. Genetically modified mouse model systems and complementary in vivo approaches in other vertebrates have provided a solid basis for its relevance and contribution to normal neural development, as well as for the pathological consequences of its deregulation. However, the precise functional role of cell death remains a topic of debate.