Itiswellrecognizedthatcelldeathplaysanimportantroleduringthematurationofthenervoussystemaswellasinmanyneurologicaldiseases.Apoptosishasbeenshowntobeimportantparticularyduringembryogenesisasameanstoeliminatingunwantedneurons.SeveredaxonshavealsobeenshowntodegenerateinanorganizedfashiontermedWalleriandegeneration.Excitotoxicdeathisanotherformofcelldeathinthenervoussystemwhichisinducedbyhighconcentrationsofneurotransmitterssuchasglutamate.Itisnotknownwhetherthesamemolecularmechanismsunderliethesedifferentformsofcelldeathinthenervoussystem.TheBax-/-Bak-/-doubleknock-outmouseprovidesanidealsystemtostudy