Astrocytes Pt 1: Development, Morphology, and Regional Specialization of Astrocytes

Astrocytes: Development, Morphology, and Regional Specialization of Astrocytes, Volume 1 provides an overview of the development and diversity of astrocytes in the whole central nervous system and serves as a guide to the members of the astrocyte family. This volume discusses the phylogenetic and ontogenetic development, the origin, differentiation, and topographical distribution of astrocytes. The text deals mainly with astrocytes in the brains of birds and mammals because of the maximum diversity and specialization of glial cells found in these vertebrates. The book will be of great use to cellular biologists, developmental neurobiologists, pediatric neurologists, neurochemists, neurologists, and neuropathologists.

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Phylogenetic Development of Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Outline of the Phylogenetic Relationships of Animals III. Morphological and Ultrastructural Features IV. Positional Relationships V. Functional Attributes VI. Conclusions References Prenatal Ontogenesis of Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Development of Neural Tube III. Differentiation of Neural Tube IV. Development of Astrocytes in Situ V. Development of Astrocytes in Tissue Culture VI. Development of Raff's Type 1 and Type 2 Astrocytes VII. Conclusions References Postnatal Ontogenesis of Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Ultrastructure of Developing Astrocytes III. Immunochemical Differentiation IV. Quantitative Aspects V. Development of Astrocyte-Related Cells VI. Conclusions References Fibrous and Protoplasmic Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Postnatal Ontogenesis of Fibrous and Protoplasmic Astrocytes III. Morphology in Light Microscopy IV. Ultrastructure of Fibrous and Protoplasmic Astrocytes V. Conclusion References Ependymal Tanycytes of the Ventricular System in Vertebrates I. Historical Background and General Location of Tanycytes II. Origin and Development III. Tanycytes of the Third Ventricle IV. Aqueductal and Fourth Ventricular Tanycytes V. Spinal Cord Tanycytes References The Müller Cell I. Introduction II. Morphology and Ultrastructure III. Development IV. Electrophysiology V. Pharmacology and Biochemistry References Pituicytes I. Introduction II. Development of Pituicytes III. Morphology of Pituicytes IV. Spatial Relations to Neurosecretory Nerve Fibers and Perivascular Spaces V. In Vitro Studies of Pituicytes VI. Functional Aspects: Cytochemical and Immunocytochemical Results VII. Reactions of Pituicytes to Experimental Conditions VIII. Possible Role of Pituicytes during Neurosecretion: Concluding Statements and Questions References Pineal Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Astrocytes in the Human Pineal Gland III. Astrocytes in the Pineal Gland of Lower Species IV. Concluding Remarks References Astrocytes in the Cerebral Cortex with Special Regard to Tissue Culture Studies I. Introduction II. Development and Morphology of Astroglia in the Rat Cerebral Cortex III. Methods for Studying Properties of Astroglia from Cerebral Cortex IV. Seeding of Primary Cultures V. Morphological and Biochemical Characterization of Primary Cultures from the Cerebral Cortex VI. Aspects of Cell Differentiation in Culture VII. Functional Aspects of Astroglial-Like Cells from Cerebral Cortex VIII. Concluding Remarks References Cerebellar Astrocytes I. Introduction II. Structure of the Adult Cerebellar Cortex III. Development of the Cerebellum IV. Use of Cultured Astrocytes as a Model for Astrocyte Differentiation and Function References Astrocytic Diversity in the Optic Nerve: A Cytoarchitectural Study I. Introduction II. Development III. Specialized Features IV. The Cytoarchitecture of Astrocytes in the Optic Nerve References Astrocytes in the Olfactory Bulb I. Introduction II. Glial Cell Types in the Olfactory Nerve Fiber Layer III. Relationship of Ensheathing Cells to Other Glial Cells IV. Implications of Hypothesis That Ensheathing Cell Is a Variant of Astrocyte V. Concluding Remarks References Astrocytes and the Blood-Brain Barrier I. Introduction II. Structural Specializations in Brain Endothelium III. Histochemical Specializations in Brain Endothelium IV. Do Astrocytes Play a Role in the Blood-Brain Barrier? V. Summary References Cell Junctions of Astrocytes, Ependyma, and Related Cells in the Mammalian Central Nervous System, with Emphasis on the Hypothesis of a Generalized Functional Syncytium of Supporting Cells I. Classification of Neuroepithelial Progenies II. Relationships of Ependyma, Ependymoglia, and Astroglia III. Classification and Structure of Cell Junctions IV. Possible Functional Implications of Junctional Cooperativity V. Glial Cell Polarization VI. Other Data on Glial Junctions References Index