Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the discoverer of neurosteroids, and a panel of distinguished scientists and clinical researchers exhaustively and critically review all facets of neurosteroids involved in behavior, stress, memory, depression, anxiety, aging of the brain, and neurodegenerative diseases. These contributors illuminate the role of neurosteroids in brain development and plasticity and detail their neuromodulatory influence on GABAA, ionotropic glutamate receptors, acetylcholine receptors, sigma receptors, and calcium channels. Clearly pointing the way toward novel pharmaceutical agents that may be of significant therapeutic value, particularly with regard to aging mental functions, Neurosteroids: A New Regulatory Function in the Nervous System offers neurobiologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, and geriatricians the first comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of these important bioactive molecules.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a significant source of death and permanent disability, contributing to nearly one-third of all injury related deaths in the United States and exacting a profound personal and economic toll. Despite the increased resources that have recently been brought to bear to improve our understanding of TBI, the developme

Jasper's Basic Mechanisms, Fourth Edition, is the newest most ambitious and now clinically relevant publishing project to build on the four-decade legacy of the Jasper's series. In keeping with the original goal of searching for "a better understanding of the epilepsies and rational methods of prevention and treatment.", the book represents an encyclopedic compendium neurobiological mechanisms of seizures, epileptogenesis, epilepsy genetics and comordid conditions. Of practical importance to the clinician, and new to this edition are disease mechanisms of genetic epilepsies and therapeutic approaches, ranging from novel antiepileptic drug targets to cell and gene therapies.

Thirty years ago, the group of Baulieu and colleagues discovered that certain steroid hormones were present in higher amounts in the brain than in the plasma, and also found that suppression of circulating steroids by adrenalectomy and castration did not affect the concentration of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and their sulfate esters in the rat brain. These seminal observations led to the concept that the brain, in very much the same way as the adrenal cortex, testis, ovary and placenta, was capable of synthesizing steroids. These brain born steroids, called neurosteroids, have been found to exert a vast array of biological activities. A number of steroidogenic enzymes have now been identified in the central nervous system by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, and the neuronal and hormonal mechanisms regulating the biosynthesis of neurosteroids have been partially elucidated. The aim of this Research Topic is to celebrate three decades of research on neurosteroids by gathering a bouquet of review papers and original articles from leading scientists in the flourishing field of neurosteroids.

GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS and acts via GABAA and GABAB receptors. Recently, a novel form of GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition, termed “tonic” inhibition, has been described. Whereas synaptic GABAA receptors underlie classical “phasic” GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition (inhibitory postsynaptic currents), tonic GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition results from the activation of extrasynaptic receptors by low concentrations of ambient GABA. Extrasynaptic GABAA receptors are composed of receptor subunits that convey biophysical properties ideally suited to the generation of persistent inhibition and are pharmacologically and functionally distinct from their synaptic counterparts. This book highlights ongoing work examining the properties of recombinant and native extrasynaptic GABAA receptors and their preferential targeting by endogenous and clinically relevant agents. In addition, it emphasizes the important role of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors in GABAergic inhibition throughout the CNS and identifies them as a major player in both physiological and pathophysiological processes.

International Review of Neurobiology, Volume 46 presents in-depth reviews on such ground-breaking topics as assembly and intracellular trafficking of GABA A receptors, D-1 dopamine receptors, and Alzheimer's disease. This series offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date information available and is a must for anyone in the field. Includes a historical overview of neurosteroid research Contains a chapter on neurosteroid biosynthesis and regulation Presents current methods of neurosteroid measurement and analysis Discusses neurosteroid function in both the normal and the pathological brain Chapters address the function of neurosteroid in: Stress, Receptor plasticity and function, Learning and Memory, Alcohol use, Depression

The new, 5th Edition of the premier ocular pathology resource offers the latest information in the field. Over 2095 illustrations *1800 in full color* from the authors' collections represent one of the finest compilations of rare and unusual ocular conditions available. Comprehensive, yet concise, it explores new topics such as complications of corneal surgery, vascular disorders, secondary cataracts, bone-marrow transplant retinopathy, neural retinal detachment, ocular melanotic tumors, and more. Plus, a companion CD-ROM and text/CD-ROM package are available! Explores new topics such as complications of corneal surgery, vascular disorders, secondary cataracts, bone-marrow transplant retinopathy, neural retinal detachment, and ocular melanotic tumors (including diabetes). Offers expanded coverage of entities such as chromosome 17 deletion syndrome, necrobiotic xanthogranuloma, climatic protoglycan stromal keratopathy, unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy, acute mutifocal retinitis, idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, North Carolina macular dystrophy, familial internal limiting membrane dystrophy, clumped pigmentary retinal dystrophy (clumped pigmentary retinal degeneration), vasoproliferative retinal tumors, Schwartz's syndrome, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy, familial atypical mole and melanoma (FAM-M) syndrome, and more! Features specific genetic profiles for many existing entities.