Cell cycle events distinguish sensory neuronal death from motoneuron death as a result of trophic factor deprivation.

The clarification of mechanisms of developmental cell death may provide hints in the prevention of pathological neuronal death. The execution phase of cell death has been extensively characterized; however, events that occur prior to this phase are less well understood. Previous studies have suggested that terminally differentiated neurons induced to die in various experimental paradigms may be making an abortive attempt to reenter the cell cycle.