The studies described here were carried out in the Neuroregulation Group at the Department of Physiology of the University of Leiden. Over the last decade this group has, in close collaboration with the departments of neurosurgery and urology of the Academic Hospital of Leiden, studied development and regeneration of the spinal cord and its peripheral nerves both from a neuroanatomical and a clinical perspective. During this period the development of brainstem projections to the spinal cord of the rat was studied with a retrograde tracing technique. Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the spinal cord of rat fetuses, both at different ages, and at different levels of the spinal cord. These studies aimed to discover regularities in the behavior of descending fiber systems that could yield insight into the logic that the nervous system must employ to structure its connectional pattern during development. Such insight might then be applied to improve regeneration of the nervous system.
There exists a wealth of information about the development of the spinal cord in journal articles and monographs, yet this beautifully illustrated work is the first book devoted to this important topic. Because the developing human spinal cord cannot be subjected to experimental manipulations, the knowledge gained from experimental work in animals is applied here to an interpretation of the time course and mechanisms of spinal cord development in man. The book begins with a review of our current understanding of the structure and functions of the spinal cord. Special reference is made to the phylogeny of the vertebrate spinal cord because the authors' interpretation of the development and organization of the human spinal cord is specifically an evolutionary one. Following a detailed experiment-based account of spinal cord development in the rat, the development of the human spinal cord is described, illustrated and interpreted in separate chapters during three epochs: the first trimester (the embryonic period), the second and third trimesters (the fetal period), and the first year of postnatal life. Special attention is paid to such topics as neurons, and the growth and myelination of the ascending and descending fiber tracts of the spinal cord. The book ends with a correlation of the development of motor behavior with different stages in the morphological development of the human spinal cord during the embryonic, fetal, and postnatal periods. The successive acquisition of voluntary control over different parts of the body during infancy is correlated with the progressive myelination of the corticospinal tract. * The book contains an extensive review of work on spinal cord organization and development throughout the 20th century. * The interpretations are based on experimental studies of spinal cord development in the rat carried out by the authors and their associates. * The histological material on human spinal cord development is the largest ever assembled and reproduced (combining the Carnegie, Minot, and Yakovlev Collections). * The collected material (which varies in quality and some of it has begun to fade) has been digitized and electronically reprocessed for improved reproduction. * Discrete components of the spinal cord and new developments are highlighted by color coding; typically on one side only, leaving the contralateral side untouched to allow the reader to use his own interpretation. * Summary graphs are presented, many in color, to convey important structural relationships, developmental events, or theories. * The authors revive a few forgotten theories and offer several new ones regarding the development and organization of the human spinal cord. Development of the Human Spinal Cord will be of interest to developmental biologists, neuroscientists, embryologists, molecular biologists (those working on stem cell research), pediatric neurologists, pathologists, child and developmental psychologists, and their students and trainees.
The studies described here were carried out in the Neuroregulation Group at the Department of Physiology of the University of Leiden. Over the last decade this group has, in close collaboration with the departments of neurosurgery and urology of the Academic Hospital of Leiden, studied development and regeneration of the spinal cord and its peripheral nerves both from a neuroanatomical and a clinical perspective. During this period the development of brainstem projections to the spinal cord of the rat was studied with a retrograde tracing technique. Horseradish peroxidase was injected into the spinal cord of rat fetuses, both at different ages, and at different levels of the spinal cord. These studies aimed to discover regularities in the behavior of descending fiber systems that could yield insight into the logic that the nervous system must employ to structure its connectional pattern during development. Such insight might then be applied to improve regeneration of the nervous system.
This book is a comprehensive reference of the neuraxial route for the delivery of therapeutics. It reviews the historical evolution of this approach from its inception in the later 1800's to present day. This amply referenced text covers basic discussions of spinal anatomy, embryogenesis, neuraxial vascularity, cerebrospinal fluid flow dynamics and parenchymal molecule movement. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of different intrathecal agents are explored in detail with particular reference to clinical correlates in pain and spasticity. Particular attention is paid to the issues relevant to preclinical models of intrathecal delivery and the assessment of spinal pathologies arising from acute and chronic intrathecal drug delivery. Chapters provide essential discussions of clinical aspects of patient care, including patient evaluation and screening, trialing and device management, troubleshooting problems and addressing complications, best practices, cost-effectiveness and future of the therapy. Clinicians and researchers who practice intrathecal therapy and study neuraxial mechanisms will find Neuraxial Therapeutics, to be an invaluable guide to this treatment modality.
Motor Neurobiology of the Spinal Cord provides a comprehensive description of the experimental tools available for investigating the neuronal properties that allow populations of spinal cord neurons to control muscles responsible for limb movements and posture control. By integrating data from many new approaches, this text demonstrates how spinal cord circuits operate under a variety conditions and explores the new and exciting developments that are being made in motor neurobiology of the spinal cord. It also elucidates concepts and principles relevant to function and structure throughout the nervous system and presents information about changes induced by injury and disease.
The studies described here were carried out in the Neuroregul ation Group, Department of Physiology, University of Leiden, the Netherlands. Over the last decade, this group, in close collaboration with the Department of Neurosurgery of the Academic Hospital of Leiden, has studied the development of the central nervous system from a neuroanatomical as well as a clinical perspective. During this period, the expression of several morphore gulators in the developing rat spinal cord was extensively investigated. Parallel studies focused on the development of the spinal cord fiber systems, which was studied by means of the intrauterine use of neuronal tracers. The main goal of these studies was to extend our knowledge about the (normal) generation of the spinal cord and to contribute to the under standing of clinical problems related to regeneration and degeneration in the mammalian central nervous system. The studies on morphoregulators, in particular, appeared to benefit two different scientific areas. Firstly, the correlation between morphoregulator expression patterns and known anatomy contributed to our knowledge about spinal cord development. Secondly, the correlation between morpho regulator expression patterns and known developmental processes may help to understand their precise function(s). This volume of Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology presents these particular studies on the development of the rat spinal cord performed over the last decade. As well as integrating the results of the tracer studies, this volume also provides an update on the development of the rat spinal cord.
This third edition of the standard reference on the nervous system of the rat is a complete and updated revision of the 1994 second edition. All chapters have been extensively updated, and new chapters added covering early segmentation, growth factors, and glia. The book is now aligned with the data available in the Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates, making it an excellent companion to this bestselling atlas. Physiological data, functional concepts, and correlates to human anatomy and function round out the new edition. - Designed to be used in conjunction with the bestselling Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates - New to this edition is inclusion of physiological data, functional concepts, and correlates to human anatomy and function in each chapter - Contains new chapters on early segmentation of the central nervous system, growth factors and glia
The Handbook of Developmental Neurotoxicology provides a comprehensive account of the impacts, mechanisms, and clinical relevances of chemicals on the development of the nervous system. The book is written by internationally recognized experts on developmental neurotoxicology, covering subjects from basic neuro-development to toxic syndromes induced by various chemicals. It is an important text for both students and professionals who are interested in developmental neurobiology and neurotoxicology. - Written by internationally recognized experts on developmental neurotoxicology - Includes extensive references - Well illustrated with diagrams, charts and tables - Provides coverage of basic neurobiology as well as neurotoxicology
This volume is a valuable contribution to the influence of a teratological agent on early avian development, especially the chondrocranium. Cranial abnormalities developing from the experimental application of ethyl alcohol on genetically and nutritionally uniform chick embryos are described in detail and compared to the normal stages of development. A full discussion and evaluation are provided regarding the gross abnormalities and malformations observed in microscopical and histological investigations. The value of avian material for the experimental applicaion of teratogenic material is demonstrated.
