New Insights On Neuron And Astrocyte Function From Cutting Edge Optical Techniques

Astrocytes are key cellular partners to neurons in the brain. They play an important role in multiple processes such as neurotransmitter recycling, trophic support, antioxidant defense, ionic homeostasis, inflammatory modulation, neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling, neurogenesis, synapse formation and synaptic plasticity. In addition to their crucial involvement in normal brain physiology, it is well known that astrocytes adopt a reactive phenotype under most acute and chronic pathological conditions such as ischemia, trauma, brain cancer, epilepsy, demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the functional impact of astrocyte reactivity is still unclear. During the last decades, the development of innovative approaches to study astrocytes has significantly improved our understanding of their prominent role in brain function and their contribution to disease states. In particular, new genetic tools, molecular probes, and imaging techniques that achieve high spatial and temporal resolution have revealed new insight into astrocyte functions in situ. This Research Topic provides a collection of cutting-edge techniques, approaches and models to study astrocytes in health and disease. It also suggests new directions to achieve discoveries on these fascinating cells.

As imaging studies have continued to expand in scope and sophistication, this new edition of the highly successful and well–received Imaging Neurons: A Laboratory Manualhas expanded to include development, with over twenty new chapters on such topics as MRI microscopy, imaging early developmental events, and labeling single neurons. Chapters on FRET, FCS/ICS, FRAP, hyperresolution microscopy, single molecule imaging, imaging with quantum dots, and imaging gene expression are included. With over forty full chapters, the manual also includes over forty sections of protocols for imaging techniques.

This volume explores the latest techniques and improved methods used to study important neurobiological and associated neuropathological conditions. Chapters cover topics such as the application of semiconductor quantum dots as photostable fluorophores used for labeling and tracking; GCaMP6 transcranial imaging to monitor neural activity; the patch-clamping technique allowing simultaneous monitoring of membrane currents and optical signals; and quantifying behavioral dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI). In Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Cutting-edge and practical, Basic Neurobiology Techniques is a valuable resource for novel and expert researchers interested in expanding their knowledge of this developing field. .

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

Understanding the mechanisms that underlie brain activity and function remains one of the major frontiers of biology. All the processes of how we co-ordinate our movements, sense our surroundings, react to stimuli and learn and retain information rely on complicated networks of neurons thatcommunicate with each other and their targets. This fast and accurate intercellular signalling most occurs at synapses, specialized processes of neurons that release chemical signals, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters: Frontiers in Molecular Biology will provide the reader withextensive background information on neurotransmitter release. It takes a multidisciplinary approach, but does not assume previous knowledge having basic introductions to most topics. Topics however are covered in enough detail to be of interest to experts in the field. Throughout, emphasis is placedon the rationale by which proteins are assigned specific functions rather than just providing facts about function. The first chapter provides an introduction to the basic features and properties of the synapse and is followed by a chapter detailing several important techniques used to elucidatevarious aspects of release. Chapters 3 describes many of the biochemical approaches used to identify proteins involved in neurotransmitter release and then chapters 4 and 5 focus on more specific aspects of synaptic transmission: the proteins that transport neurotransmitters and the role ofphosphlipids in the process. The next five chapters concentrate on approaches to unravel the function of many proteins in vivo by using toxins, giant squid axons, C. elegans, Drosophila, and mice. The final chapter summarizes current knowledge on endocytosis and recycling. Knowledge of themolecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release has expanded tremendously over the last 10 years. Many of the proteins involved have been isolated, but their roles have yet to be determined. These discoveries will be a major challenge and it is therefore the major aim of this book not onlyto provide information but also to generate excitement.

This volume explores major light microscopic imaging modalities that can be used to view nervous tissue, and discusses the steps needed to use each of them, and ways to interpret the data. The chapters in this book cover topics such as atlasing of insect brain; neuroanatomical tracing through fluorochrome expression; fluorescent probes for amyloids; or optical clearing for ultramicroscopy of GFP-expressing tissues. In the Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your laboratory. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Neurohistology and Imaging Techniques is a valuable resource for both expert and novice users of major light microscopic imaging techniques, and those interested in exploring alternate imaging tools.