Prion Proteins and Neuronal Death in the Cerebellum

The cellular prion protein, a major player in the neuropathology of prion diseases, is believed to control both death and survival pathways in central neurons. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these functions remain to be deciphered. This chapter presents cytopathological studies of the neurotoxic effects of infectious prions and cellular prion protein-deficiency on cerebellar neurons in wild-type and transgenic mice. The immunochemical and electron microscopy data collected in situ and ex vivo in cultured organotypic cerebellar slices indicate that an interplay between apoptotic and autophagic pathways is involved in neuronal death induced either by the infectious prions or by prion protein-deficiency.