Glial Neurobiology - by Alexei Verkhratsky & Arthur Butt (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"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.

From the Back Cover

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 fusion and nervous system pathology
• an exploration of all the major types of glial cells including: the astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia of the CNS 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 will also appeal to researchers in neuroscience, physiology, pharmacology and pharmaceutics.

Review Quotes

About the Author

Alexei Verkhratsky is Professor of Neurophysiology and Chairman of the Division of Neuroscience at the University of Manchester, UK.

Arthur Butt is Professor of Cellular Neurophysiology, Department of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK.