An understanding of the nervous system at virtually any level of analysis requires an understanding of its basic building block, the neuron. From Molecules to Networks provides the solid foundation of the morphologic, biochemical, and biophysical properties of nerve cells. All chapters have been thoroughly revised for this second edition to reflect the significant advances of the past 5 years. The new edition expands on the network aspects of cellular neurobiology by adding a new chapter, Information Processing in Neural Networks, and on the relation of cell biological processes to various neurological diseases. The new concluding chapter illustrates how the great strides in understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of nerve cells have led to fundamental insights into important aspects of neurodegenerative disease. - Written and edited by leading experts in the field, the second edition completely and comprehensively updates all chapters of this unique textbook - Discusses emerging new understanding of non-classical molecules that affect neuronal signaling - Full colour, professional graphics throughout - Includes two new chapters: Information Processing in Neural Networks - describes the principles of operation of neural networks and the key circuit motifs that are common to many networks in the nervous system. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Disease - introduces the progress made in the last 20 years in elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer's disease

Advances in Cellular Neurobiology, Volume 4 focuses on the central nervous system. This book is divided into three main sections—cell differentiation and interaction, aging and pathology, and methodologies. The topics discussed include advances in the neurobiology of oligodendroglia; neuronal differentiation in reaggregate cell cultures; and morphological aspects of brain edema. The cell biological aspects of Down's syndrome; isolation and culture of cells of the dorsal root ganglia; and growth requirements of neural cells in vitro are also deliberated in this text. This publication is intended for neurologists, but is also beneficial to students researching on the anatomy and functional relation of the brain and spinal cord.

The field of cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience repre sents the interface between the three large, well established fields of neu roscience, cell biology, and molecular biology. In the last 10 to 15 years, this new field has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and exciting subdisciplines of neuroscience. It is now becoming possible to understand many aspects of nervous system function at the molecular level, and there already are dramatic applications of this information to the treatment of nervous system injury, disease, and genetic disorders. Moreover, there is great optimism that new strategies will emerge soon as a result of the explosion of information. This book was written to introduce students to the major issues, ex perimental strategies, and current knowledge base in cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience. The concept for the book arose from a section of an introductory neuroscience course given to first-year medical students at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The text pre sumes a basic, but not detailed, understanding of nervous system orga nization and function, and a background in biology. It is intended as an appropriate introductory text for first-year medical students or graduate students in neuroscience, neurobiology, psychobiology, or related pro grams;··and for advanced undergraduate students with appropriate back ground in biology and neuroscience. While some of the specific information presented undoubtedly will be outdated rapidly, the "gestalt" of this emerging field of inquiry as presented here should help the beginning stu dent organize new information.

The genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of neural development are essential for understanding evolution and disorders of neural systems. Recent advances in genetic, molecular, and cell biological methods have generated a massive increase in new information, but there is a paucity of comprehensive and up-to-date syntheses, references, and historical perspectives on this important subject. The Comprehensive Developmental Neuroscience series is designed to fill this gap, offering the most thorough coverage of this field on the market today and addressing all aspects of how the nervous system and its components develop. Particular attention is paid to the effects of abnormal development and on new psychiatric/neurological treatments being developed based on our increased understanding of developmental mechanisms. Each volume in the series consists of review style articles that average 15-20pp and feature numerous illustrations and full references. Volume 2 offers 56 high level articles devoted mainly to Formation of Axons and Dendrites, Migration, Synaptogenesis, Developmental Sequences in the Maturation of Intrinsic and Synapse Driven Patterns. - Series offers 144 articles for 2904 full color pages addressing ways in which the nervous system and its components develop - Features leading experts in various subfields as Section Editors and article Authors - All articles peer reviewed by Section Editors to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and scholarship - Volume 2 sections include coverage of mechanisms which regulate: the formation of axons and dendrites, cell migration, synapse formation and maintenance during development, and neural activity, from cell-intrinsic maturation to early correlated patterns of activity

The genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of neural development are essential for understanding evolution and disorders of neural systems. Recent advances in genetic, molecular, and cell biological methods have generated a massive increase in new information, but there is a paucity of comprehensive and up-to-date syntheses, references, and historical perspectives on this important subject. The Comprehensive Developmental Neuroscience series is designed to fill this gap, offering the most thorough coverage of this field on the market today and addressing all aspects of how the nervous system and its components develop. Particular attention is paid to the effects of abnormal development and on new psychiatric/neurological treatments being developed based on our increased understanding of developmental mechanisms. Each volume in the series consists of review style articles that average 15-20pp and feature numerous illustrations and full references. Volume 1 offers 48 high level articles devoted mainly to patterning and cell type specification in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems. - Series offers 144 articles for 2904 full color pages addressing ways in which the nervous system and its components develop - Features leading experts in various subfields as Section Editors and article Authors - All articles peer reviewed by Section Editors to ensure accuracy, thoroughness, and scholarship - Volume 1 sections include coverage of mechanisms which: control regional specification, regulate proliferation of neuronal progenitors and control differentiation and survival of specific neuronal subtypes, and controlling development of non-neural cells

Neural Surface Antigens: From Basic Biology towards Biomedical Applications focuses on the functionalrole of surface molecules in neural development, stem cell research, and translational biomedical paradigms.With an emphasis on human and rodent model systems, this reference covers fundamentals of neural stemcell biology and flow cytometric methodology. Addressing cell biologists as well as clinicians working in theneurosciences, the book was conceived by an international panel of experts to cover a vast array of particularsurface antigen families and subtypes. It provides insight into the basic biology and functional mechanisms ofneural cell surface signaling molecules influencing mammalian development, regeneration, and treatments. - Introduces early phase clinical trials of neural stem cells - Outlines characterization of surface molecule expression and methods for isolation which open unprecedented opportunities for functional study, quantitation & diagnostics - Highlights the role of stem cells in neural surface antigen and biomarker analysis and applications

"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.