Peripheral neurons which depend on NGF for their survival undergo apoptosis after NGF deprivation. However, a convenient in vitro method for assessing the programmed cell death of the central neurons has not been established, because the dependence of particular central neurons on neurotrophic factors has been clarified only for small populations of neurons. Based on the fact that cortical neurons survive in culture for many weeks in the presence of astroglial cells, we have established an in vitro cell death model in which the neurons die through apoptosis. Cortical neurons were maintained on a cover slip for 1 week on top of astroglial cells, and then cell death was induced by separation of the neurons from the astroglial cells. The cortical neurons died within 2-4 days. Nuclei of the dying neurons showed the morphological features of apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation was observed by the TUNEL method and by in situ nick translation (ISNT) staining. The cell death was significantly suppressed by neurotrophic factors, NT-3, NT-4, BDNF, and GDNF, but not by NGF. The neuronal survival was prolonged, as in the case of peripheral neurons, by bFGF, elevated potassium, cAMP, forskolin, and metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist. The cell death was inhibited by inhibitors of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme and CPP32. CPP32-like proteolytic activity was increased prior to the appearance of apoptotic cells. These results suggest that cortical neurons die after separation from glial cells through apoptosis caused by deprivation of neurotrophic factors produced by the astroglial cells.