ABSTRACT
Although many reviews on the topic of apoptosis have appeared in the last 5 years, most of these have focused on apoptosis in the context of cancer (1), normal development (2), the immune system (3), or neurodegenerative diseases (4). In contrast, the role of apoptosis in developmental toxicology has largely been ignored. Thus, this review will focus on apoptosis and its role in abnormal development, particularly abnormal development induced by teratogens. To understand and appreciate what is known about the role of apoptosis in abnormal development, it is necessary to understand what is now known about apoptosis in general. Thus, this chapter is organized into five basic sections: the morphology of apoptosis, the genetics of apoptosis, the biochemistry of apoptosis, the role of apoptosis in normal development, and the role of apoptosis in teratogen-induced abnormal development.
