Ashford and Porten observed the phenomenon of autophagy in the hominal hepatic cells using the electron microscope in 1962.It was believed as one kind of cell reaction, which was used to gain nutrient substance and digest organelles. 自噬现象最早是Ashford和Porten于1962年用电子显微镜在人的肝细胞中观察到的。它被认为是一种细胞反应,用来自身获得营养物质及消化细胞器。