Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a necrotic cell process. The cell triggers the process by activating the endogenous destruction program that leads to cell death (“ suicide pro-gram of the cell”). Apoptosis plays an important part in the development of organs as well as the control and regulation of physiological regeneration.  During apoptosis, the deoxyribonucleic acid of the cell nucleus is destroyed.  In the process, the cell nucleus not only becomes small and condensed (nu-clearpyknosis), but it also breaks into fragments (extra nuclei , karyorrhexis),  which will finally completely dissolve (karyolysis).

Apoptosis in the cavum epithelium of the rabbit endometrium with chromatin bodies 1 . Cytoplasmic processes of a macrophage envelop part of the apoptotic cell like a horseshoe 2 . Uterine clearance 3 .

References

Kuehnel, W.(2003). Color Atlas of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy. 4^th edition . Institute of Anatomy Universitätzu Luebeck Luebeck, Germany . Thieme Stuttgart · New York .