Cell death in normo- and teratogenesis. II. Cell death in teratogenesis.

The second part of the review presents the main facts and problems with respect to the role of cell death in teratogenesis (pathogenetic cell death). After mentioning the first approaches to the domain, reference is made (in order to avoid repetition) to the synthetic article published by Menkes et al. (1970), as to a series of investigations and results up to that date. Subsequently, more recent contributions are presented, first of all a series of results obtained in the Laboratory of Embryology and Teratology, Timiscara. The genetic background and the morphology of pathogenetic cell death are briefly discussed. As a conclusion, the scheme (published in 1970) of cell death linked teratogenesis is reproduced in a somewhat modified and extended way.

Cell death in normo- and teratogenesis. I. Cell death in normogenesis.

This first part of the review deals with the main facts and problems related to the role of cell death in normal prenatal development. After an overview of the pioneering work in this field, the essential contributions brought during the last few decades are presented, with special stress upon the contribution brought by the team of the Laboratory of Embryology and Teratology, Timisoara. The morphology of cell death is analysed based upon the classification of Schweichel and Merker (1973). Finally, a detailed account is given on the recent, impressive advance with respect to molecular and molecular-genetic mechanisms underlying and determining the cell death process.