Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal apoptosis in brains of ovine naturally infected with scrapie have shown that, besides the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein BAX (BCL2 Associated X, Apoptosis Regulator) and its correlation with neuropathological features of scrapie, this process appears to be blocked somehow, or it is present at extremely low levels8,9. This evidence concerns the gene BAX and scrapie.