Apoptosis is believed to be the main cause of delayed neuronal death (DND) after stroke, and it most likely plays a critical role in the penumbra located in the boundary zone of the cerebral infarts.

• 近年研究表明脑卒中后迟发性神经元死亡的主要形式是细胞凋亡，且凋亡的细胞主要集中在缺血阴影区(penumbra)。