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Astrocytes in (Patho)Physiology of the Nervous System

  • Book
  • © 2009

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Editors:
  1. Philip G. Haydon
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  2. Vladimir Parpura
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  • Presents latest research of the role of astrocytes in the physiology and pathophysiology of brain

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Table of contents (26 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
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  2. Astrocyte Heterogeneity or Homogeneity?

    • Harold K. Kimelberg
    Pages 1-25

  3. Neural Stem Cells Disguised as Astrocytes

    • Rebecca A. Ihrie, Arturo Alvarez-Buylla
    Pages 27-47

  4. Neurotransmitter Receptors in Astrocytes

    • Alexei Verkhratsky
    Pages 49-67

  5. Specialized Neurotransmitter Transporters in Astrocytes

    • Yongjie Yang, Jeffrey D. Rothstein
    Pages 69-105

  6. Connexin Expression (Gap Junctions and Hemichannels) in Astrocytes

    • Eliana Scemes, David C. Spray
    Pages 107-150

  7. Regulation of potassium by glial cells in the centralnervous system

    • Paulo Kofuji, Eric A. Newman
    Pages 151-175

  8. Energy and Amino Acid Neurotransmitter Metabolism in Astrocytes

    • Helle S. Waagepetersen, Ursula Sonnewald, Arne Schousboe
    Pages 177-200

  9. Calcium ion signaling in astrocytes

    • Joachim W. Deitmer, Karthika Singaravelu, Christian Lohr
    Pages 201-224

  10. Astrocytes in Control of the Biophysical Properties of Extracellular Space

    • Lydia Vargova, Eva Sykova
    Pages 225-250

  11. Structural association of astrocytes with neurons and vasculature: Defining territorial boundaries

    • Andreas Reichenbach, Hartwig Wolburg
    Pages 251-286

  12. Synaptic Information Processing by Astrocytes

    • Gertrudis Perea, Alfonso Araque
    Pages 287-300

  13. Mechanisms of transmitter release from astrocytes

    • Erik B. Malarkey, Vladimir Parpura
    Pages 301-350

  14. Release of Trophic Factors and Immune Molecules from Astrocytes

    • Ying Y. Jean, Issa P. Bagayogo, Cheryl F. Dreyfus
    Pages 351-381

  15. Molecular approaches for studying astrocytes

    • Todd Fiacco, Kristi Casper, Elizabeth Sweger, Cendra Agulhon, Sarah Taves, Suzanne Kurtzer-Minton et al.
    Pages 383-405

  16. The tripartite synapse

    • Michael M. Halassa, Philip G. Haydon
    Pages 407-415

  17. Glia-derived D-serine and synaptic plasticity

    • Magalie Martineau, Stéphane H.R. Oliet, Jean-Pierre Mothet
    Pages 417-441

  18. Purinergic signaling in astrocyte function and interactions with neurons

    • R. Douglas Fields
    Pages 443-460

  19. Astrocyte control of blood flow

    • Grant R.J. Gordon, Sean J. Mulligan, Brian A. MacVicar
    Pages 461-486

  20. A Role for Glial Cells of the Neuroendocrine Brain in the Central Control of Female Sexual Development

    • Alejandro Lomniczi, Sergio R. Ojeda
    Pages 487-511
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Keywords

About this book

Astrocytes were the original neuroglia that Ramón y Cajal visualized in 1913 using a gold sublimate stain. This stain targeted intermediate filaments that we now know consist mainly of glial fibrillary acidic protein, a protein used today as an astrocytic marker. Cajal described the morphological diversity of these cells with some ast- cytes surrounding neurons, while the others are intimately associated with vasculature. We start the book by discussing the heterogeneity of astrocytes using contemporary tools and by calling into question the assumption by classical neuroscience that neurons and glia are derived from distinct pools of progenitor cells. Astrocytes have long been neglected as active participants in intercellular communication and information processing in the central nervous system, in part due to their lack of electrical excitability. The follow up chapters review the “nuts and bolts” of ast- cytic physiology; astrocytes possess a diverse assortment of ion channels, neu- transmitter receptors, and transport mechanisms that enable the astrocytes to respond to many of the same signals that act on neurons. Since astrocytes can detect chemical transmitters that are released from neurons and can release their own extracellular signals there is an increasing awareness that they play physiological roles in regulating neuronal activity and synaptic transmission. In addition to these physiological roles, it is becoming increasingly recognized that astrocytes play critical roles during pathophysiological states of the nervous system; these states include gliomas, Alexander disease, and epilepsy to mention a few.

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