Full Description
"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.
Contents
Preface. List of abbreviations.
PART I: Physiology of Glia.
1. Introduction to Glia.
2. General Overview of Signalling in the Nervous System.
3. Morphology of Glial Cells.
4. Glial Development.
5. General Physiology of Glial Cells.
6. Neuronal-Glial Interactions.
PART II: Glial Cells and Nervous System Function.
7. Astrocytes.
8. Oligodendrocytes, Schwann Cells and Myelination.
PART III: Glia and Nervous System Pathology.
9. General Pathophysiology of Glia.
10. Gila and Diseases of the Nervous System.
Conclusions.
Recommended Literature.
Author Index.
Subject Index.
