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The field of cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience repre sents the interface between the three large, well established fields of neu roscience, cell biology, and molecular biology. In the last 10 to 15 years, this new field has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and exciting subdisciplines of neuroscience. It is now becoming possible to understand many aspects of nervous system function at the molecular level, and there already are dramatic applications of this information to the treatment of nervous system injury, disease, and genetic disorders. Moreover, there is great optimism that new strategies will emerge soon as a result of the explosion of information. This book was written to introduce students to the major issues, ex perimental strategies, and current knowledge base in cellular, molecular, and developmental neuroscience. The concept for the book arose from a section of an introductory neuroscience course given to first-year medical students at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The text pre sumes a basic, but not detailed, understanding of nervous system orga nization and function, and a background in biology. It is intended as an appropriate introductory text for first-year medical students or graduate students in neuroscience, neurobiology, psychobiology, or related pro grams;úúand for advanced undergraduate students with appropriate back ground in biology and neuroscience. While some of the specific information presented undoubtedly will be outdated rapidly, the "gestalt" of this emerging field of inquiry as presented here should help the beginning stu dent organize new information.

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1 Cell Biology of Neurons.- I. Neuronal Cell Structure and Its Relation to Function.- Neurons from a Cellular Perspective.- The Cytology of the Nerve Cell.- Axons.- Dendrites.- Neuronal Form and Its Relationship to Function.- Dendritic Form and Integrative Functions.- Spatiotemporal Summation.- II. Molecular Anatomy of Neurons, Intracellular Transport, and Gene Expression.- Molecular Anatomy of Neurons.- The Neuronal Cytoskeleton.- Axoplasmic Transport and the Distribution of Materials Within Neurons.- Gene Expression in Neurons.- Supplemental Reading.- 2 Cell Biology of Glia.- Glial Cells of the CNS.- Glial Cells of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).- Functional Roles of Glial Cells.- Functions of Microglia.- Gene Expression in Glial Cells.- Conclusion.- Supplemental Reading.- 3 Interneuronal Communication I: Neurotransmitters.- Nonpeptide Neurotransmitters.- Neuropeptides.- Cellular Mechanisms of Chemical Neurotransmission.- Delivery of Neurotransmitters or Their Enzymes and Storage Within Terminals.- Release (Stimulus-Coupled Secretion).- Inactivation or Degradation of Neurotransmitters.- Supplemental Reading.- 4 Interneuronal Communication II: Neurotransmitter Receptors and Second Messenger Systems.- Ionophore-Linked Receptors.- GABA and Glycine Receptors.- Receptors for Excitatory Amino Acids.- Second Messenger-Linked Receptors.- Functional Significance of Receptor-Mediated Second Messenger Systems.- Supplemental Reading.- 5 Histogenesis of the Nervous System.- The Formation of the Nervous System.- Proliferation and Migration of Neurons and Glia.- Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Neural Histogenesis.- Programmed Cell Death in the Nervous System.- Supplemental Reading.- 6 The Formation of Neural Connections I: Axon Growth and Guidance.- Elaboration of Axons and-Dendrites.- Axonal Overproliferation and Withdrawal.- Supplemental Reading.- 7 The Formation of Neural Connections II: Dendritic Development and the Establishment of Synaptic Connections.- The Development of Dendrites.- Specificity in the Formation of Topographically Ordered Projections.- Rearrangement of Synaptic Connections During Development.- Construction of Synaptic Connections.- Transsynaptic Regulation of Neuronal Differentiation.- Supplemental Reading.- 8 Nervous System Regeneration and Repair Following Injury.- Regressive Phenomena Following Injury.- Adaptive Changes in Response to Trauma.- Reactive Growth of Axons and Synapses.- Transplants and Grafts.- Supplemental Reading.

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