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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.

Thirty-five years ago, when Stephen Kuffler and his colleagues at Harvard initiated a new era of research on the properties and functions of neuroglial cells, very few neuro scientists were impressed at the time with the hypothesis that neuroglial cells could have another, though more subtle, role to play in the nervous system than to provide static support to neurons. Today, very few neuroscientists are unaware of the fact that multiple interactions between neurons and glial cells have been described, and that they consti tute the basis for understanding the function and the pathology of the nervous system. Glial cells outnumber neurons and make up about one-half of the bulk of the nervous system. They are divided into two major classes: first, the macroglia, which include astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system, and the Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system; and second, the microglial cells. These different classes of glial cells have different functions and contribute in different ways in the devel opment, function, and the pathology of the nervous system.

"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.

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 book will highlight the role played by glial cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems in both healthy and unhealthy individuals. Among all processes involved, we will discuss the importance of the enteric nervous system in the control of gut homeostasis, in the interaction with the immune system, and its participation in pathological conditions such as metabolic syndrome. We will also look at the relevance of astrocytes during synaptic transmission and the regulation of plasticity by releasing gliotransmitters. Ultimately, we will highlight the influence of astrocytes during the development of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on how the serum levels of the astrocytic protein S100B can be used as a biomarker for clinical decisions.

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.