autolysis

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

autolysis
    n 1: lysis of plant or animal tissue by an internal process
         [syn: {autolysis}, {self-digestion}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

autolysis \autolysis\ n.
   1. lysis of cells or tissues due to enzymatic activity from
      within the cell, as contrasted with externally induced
      lysis.

   Note: Autolysis occurs to tissues of higher animals when they
         are detached from the organism.
         [WordNet 1.5]