Visualizing Apoptosis

Cells undergoing apoptosis display a number of morphological changes, including chromatin condensation, cytoplasmic shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and the formation of apoptotic bodies (1 ). These morphological changes are accompanied by structural changes within the cell, such as the reorganization of actin, nuclear lamin cleavage, fragmentation of DNA, and “flipping” of the phospholipid phosphatidylserine from the interior leaflet of the plasma membrane to the exterior of the cell (2 –5 ).