Meningiomas are intracranial tumour derived from meningothelial cells, which aggressive behaviour has been frequently associated to cell apoptosis. In this paper activation of several factors involved in apoptosis has been investigated on biopsies of primary, non recurrent meningiomas. Benign (meningotheliomatous, transitional, fibrous, angiomatous), atypical and anaplastic meningiomas were analysed by immunohistochemistry and western blot, to visualize the occurring of different apoptotic pathways and their association with clinical grading. Apoptotic cell have been detected by a double colorimetric staining for TUNEL and caspase-3 active form. Apoptotic signal positive cells have been detected in all type of meningiomas analysed, with exception of meningotheliomatous meningiomas. Differences have been found in the activation of apoptotic pathways between several types of grade I meningiomas and among benign, anaplastic and atypical meningiomas. An intense expression of several apoptotic inhibitor occurred in grade I meningiomas. The correlation among expression of apoptotic and inhibitory factors and cell proliferation index may suggest that in grade I meningiomas apoptosis may be related to mechanisms involved into tumor cells surviving. Instead in grade II and III meningiomas the same correlation seems indicate an high turnover of tumor cells that might be useful as index of cell proliferation and tumor mass growth.