Confusion about neuronal cell death mechanisms in the PD brain originates from how PCD is defined, the use of detection systems that do not distinguish between types of DNA-strand breaks associated with apoptosis or necrosis, arbitrary morphological interpretations of chromatin condensation, and uncertainty about the meaning of caspase immunoreactivities in cells [17,24,375]. Studies are warranted that utilize high-resolution techniques, such as laser capture microdissection, with unambiguous selectivity for specific neurons and proteomic approaches [380,381] to reveal quantitatively mechanisms of cell death, such as the activation of apoptotic, autophagic and programmed necrotic pathways, directly in SNc neurons in human autopsy tissue and optimally prepared animal model tissue.