[Mitochondrial and lysosomal pathways of death of hepatocytes of lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis L].

Mechanisms of mitochondrial and lysosomal pathways of natural cell death in lamprey hepatocytes at the spring period of prespawning migration are described. The mitochondrial pathways (release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and activation ofcaspases) operates according to the classical scheme known for apoptosis. The lysosomal cell death pathway connected with activation of cathepsin B has been revealed quite recently in cells in pathologies, in particular at obstruction of gallbladder and bile ducts. The peculiarity of lamprey hepatocytes consists in biliary atresia (the absence both of gallbladder and of bile ducts) in liver of adult animals. Thereby the lamprey hepatocytes represent an excellent object for study of this new pathway of cell death. We have revealed a parallel development of the mitochondrial and lysosomal pathways of cell death of lamprey hepatocytes.