ABSTRACT
Autophagy,an intracellular d egradative pathway,mediates the degradation of long-lived proteins and some cellular organelles and thus plays crucial physiological role in the maintenance of neuronal homeostatsis. The intracellular and extracellular accumulation of protein aggregates is a common pathological alternation in various neurodegenerative disorders. The long and thin axons and dendrites (or collectively “neurites”) are particularly vulnerable to the accumulation of protein aggregates and damaged cellular organelles. Synaptic damage,axonal terminal degeneration,and neuritic atrophy are frequently found in the early stage of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, efficient clearance of protein aggregates and damaged cellular organelles by autophagic pathway may suppress neuritic degeneration. However, it is also demonstrated that insufficient autophagy or excessive autophagic activation contributes to neuritic injury. Here,the recent advances in the study of neuritic autophagy have been reviewed. We firstly introduce the biogenesis and transport of autophagosomes in neurites. Secondly,the regulatory role of autophagy in neuritic growth and damage is reviewed. Finally,the association between autophagy and neurodegenerative diseases is discussed.