Apoptotic, autophagic and necrotic cell death types in pathophysiological conditions: Morphological and histological aspects

This chapter is intended as an assembly of a minimal atlas of how cells in animal and plant tissues can die in a controlled way. In accordance with the recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death, we recognize three types of programmed cell death (PCD) based on morphological features: type 1 (apoptosis), type 2 (autophagic cell death) and type 3 (necrotic cell death). We present evidence on the inter-relation or simultaneous occurrence of the different PCD modes, which poses difficulties for the study of cell death in organized tissues. We also address particular examples of cell death, such as mitotic catastrophe, entosis, cornification, and formation of lens fibers and erythrocytes, which do not fit in the three-part classification. © 2009 Springer Netherlands.