A timely overview covering the three major types of glial cells in the central nervous system - astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes. New findings on glia biology are overturning a century of conventional thinking about how the brain operates and are expanding our knowledge about information processing in the brain. The book will present recent research findings on the role of glial cells in both healthy function and disease. It will comprehensively cover a broad spectrum of topics while remaining compact in size.
"This volume is a very valuable and much needed contribution." –Quarterly Review of Biology AT LAST - A comprehensive, accessible textbook on glial neurobiology! Glial cells are the most numerous cells in the human brain but for many years have attracted little scientific attention. Neurophysiologists concentrated their research efforts instead, on neurones and neuronal networks because it was thought that they were the key elements responsible for higher brain function. Recent advances, however, indicate this isn’t exactly the case. Not only are astroglial cells the stem elements from which neurones are born, but they also control the development, functional activity and death of neuronal circuits. These ground-breaking developments have revolutionized our understanding of the human brain and the complex interrelationship of glial and neuronal networks in health and disease. Features of this book: an accessible introduction to glial neurobiology including an overview of glial cell function and its active role in neural processes, brain function and nervous system pathology an exploration of all the major types of glial cells including: the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia of the ACNS and Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system; the book also presents a broad overview of glial receptors and ion channels an investigation into the role of glial cells in various types of brain diseases including stroke, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Alexander's disease, brain oedema, multiple sclerosis and many more a wealth of illustrations, including unique images from the authors' own libraries of images, describing the main features of glial cells Written by two leading experts in the field, Glial Neurobiology provides a concise, authoritative introduction to glial physiology and pathology for undergraduate/postgraduate neuroscience, biomedical, medical, pharmacy, pharmacology, and neurology, neurosurgery and physiology students. It is also an invaluable resource for researchers in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutics.
With the contribution from more than one hundred CNS neurotrauma experts, this book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account on the latest developments in the area of neurotrauma including biomarker studies, experimental models, diagnostic methods, and neurotherapeutic intervention strategies in brain injury research. It discusses neurotrauma mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and neurocognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. Also included are medical interventions and recent neurotherapeutics used in the area of brain injury that have been translated to the area of rehabilitation research. In addition, a section is devoted to models of milder CNS injury, including sports injuries.
Glial Physiology and Pathophysiology provides a comprehensive, advanced text on the biology and pathology of glial cells. Coverae includes: the morphology and interrelationships between glial cells and neurones in different parts of the nervous systems the cellular physiology of the different kinds of glial cells the mechanisms of intra- and inter-cellular signalling in glial networks the mechanisms of glial-neuronal communications the role of glial cells in synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival and development of nervous system the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metabolic neuronal-glial interactions the role of glia in nervous system pathology, including pathology of glial cells and associated diseases - for example, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Alexander disease and Parkinson's Neuroglia oversee the birth and development of neurones, the establishment of interneuronal connections (the 'connectome'), the maintenance and removal of these inter-neuronal connections, writing of the nervous system components, adult neurogenesis, the energetics of nervous tissue, metabolism of neurotransmitters, regulation of ion composition of the interstitial space and many, many more homeostatic functions. This book primes the reader towards the notion that nervous tissue is not divided into more important and less important cells. The nervous tissue functions because of the coherent and concerted action of many different cell types, each contributing to an ultimate output. This reaches its zenith in humans, with the creation of thoughts, underlying acquisition of knowledge, its analysis and synthesis, and contemplating the Universe and our place in it. An up-to-date and fully referenced text on the most numerous cells in the human brain Detailed coverage of the morphology and interrelationships between glial cells and neurones in different parts of the nervous system Describes the role og glial cells in neuropathology Focus boxes highlight key points and summarise important facts Companion website with downloadable figures and slides
Until recently, neuroscientists thought glial cells did little more than hold your brain together. But in the past few years, they've discovered that glial cells are extraordinarily important. In fact, they may hold the key to understanding intelligence, treating psychiatric disorders and brain injuries and perhaps even curing fatal conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lou Gehrig's Disease. In The Root of Thought, leading neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Koob reveals what we've learned about these remarkable cells, from their unexpected role in information storage to their function as adult stem cells that can keep your brain growing and adapting longer than scientists ever imagined possible. Ranging from fruit flies to Einstein, Koob reveals the surprising correlation between intelligence and the brain's percentage of glial cells - and why these cells' unique wavelike communications may be especially conducive to the fluid information processing human beings depend upon. You'll learn how crucial glial cells grow and develop... why almost all brain tumors are comprised of glial cells and the potential implications for treatment... even the apparent role of glial cells in your every thought and dream!
The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex neural network embedded in the gut wall that orchestrates the reflex behaviors of the intestine. The ENS is often referred to as the “little brain” in the gut because the ENS is more similar in size, complexity and autonomy to the central nervous system (CNS) than other components of the autonomic nervous system. Like the brain, the ENS is composed of neurons that are surrounded by glial cells. Enteric glia are a unique type of peripheral glia that are similar to astrocytes of the CNS. Yet enteric glial cells also differ from astrocytes in many important ways. The roles of enteric glial cell populations in the gut are beginning to come to light and recent evidence implicates enteric glia in almost every aspect of gastrointestinal physiology and pathophysiology. However, elucidating the exact mechanisms by which enteric glia influence gastrointestinal physiology and identifying how those roles are altered during gastrointestinal pathophysiology remain areas of intense research. The purpose of this e-book is to provide an introduction to enteric glial cells and to act as a resource for ongoing studies on this fascinating population of glia. Table of Contents: Introduction / A Historical Perspective on Enteric Glia / Enteric Glia: The Astroglia of the Gut / Molecular Composition of Enteric Glia / Development of Enteric Glia / Functional Roles of Enteric Glia / Enteric Glia and Disease Processes in the Gut / Concluding Remarks / References / Author Biography
The majority of cells in the nervous system are glial cells. During de velopment, these cells provide growth factors that stimulate the proli feration, migration and survival of neurones and their precursors, and promote and guide axonal growth. In the mature nervous system, glial cells provide insulating myelin sheath around axons and provide metabo lic and structural support for neurones. Glial cells also have a major influence on the local response to injury of central nerve tracts and the peripheral nervous system, either promoting, or inhibiting, axona l regrowth and recovery of lost function. This book provides a compreh ensive, state-of-the-art overview of research into the development, fu nction and malfunction of glial cells. It offers a compelling insight into how basic research throws light onto diseases and disorders and p oints the way towards treatments. Teams of internationally renowned ex perts, all active in research, have contributed chapters.
Although knowledge of the development and differentiation of glial cells has significantly increased in recent years, there are still many questions unanswered. The first section of the book is devoted to this very active topic and includes contributions on Schwann cells, oligodendrocytes, astroglia and microglia. The second section of the book covers cellular interactions, the role they play on myelination and remyelination, how these interactions take place and the molecules involved. The third section of this volume focuses on the interactions of neurons with glial cells and their role in brain function. Neuron-glia cross talk appears to be fundamental for synaptic transmission and several chapters in this section address this topic. The topic of how glial cells react to brain injury and how they participate in neuroprotection and brain repair is covered in section four of this book. As our knowledge about the molecules involved in the regenerative properties of glia increases, new avenues are open for the use of genetically modified glia with therapeutic purposes. The final section of the book is devoted to therapeutic approaches to tumours, viral and prion infections. Gene therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of gliomas, one of the most devastating forms of cancer. A chapter on prion diseases and microglia addresses a question of tremendous actuality, since prion diseases in cows is at this moment the major veterinary problem in Europe and has created a considerable social alarm.
The majority of cells in the nervous system are glia. Long thought of as passive bystanders, glial cells are increasingly being appreciated for their active roles in nourishing, supporting, and protecting the neuronal cells that relay electrical signals through the nervous system. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology examines the development of the major classes of glial cells-astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells, and microglia-and their roles in normal physiology and disease. The contributors describe how glia help establish and refine synaptic connections, maintain the metabolic and ionic milieu of nerve cells, myelinate axons, modulate nerve signal propagation, and contribute to the blood-brain barrier. The biological characteristics of glial cells in vertebrate and invertebrate model systems, including those of Drosophila, Caenorhabditis elegans, and zebrafish, are also covered. The authors also discuss the roles of glia in repair and regeneration, as well as in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's). This volume is therefore a valuable reference for all neurobiologists and biomedical scientists wishing to understand these diverse and dynamic cells.
