ABSTRACT
Autophagic activity in the nervous system has long been noted. Autophagy is activated in neurons during development, after injury, and in a range of genetic disorders. At times autophagy coincides with regeneration, while at other times it appears to lead to neurodegeneration. Accordingly, arguments have arisen about the functions of autophagy in neural cells; for example, does autophagy enhance repair (perhaps by removing molecules and organelles that malfunction), or does it participate in cell death? Proper evaluation of the roles and potential benefits of autophagy are becoming possible in light of our deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern this process.
