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This book focuses on current applications of glial cells in neural regeneration, especially in spinal cord repair. It introduces the application of a few types of glial cells including oligodendrocyte, astrocyte, Schwann cells, and stem cell derived glial cells in neural regeneration. The latest glial cell research with biomaterials, gene modification, and electrical signals is also summarized. This is an ideal book for undergraduate and research students in tissue engineering, neurobiology, and regenerative medicine as well as researchers in the field.

Over the past several years, the pace of research on the control of axonal growth has increased at a remarkable rate, and this activity is reflected in a growing literature dealing with various aspects of axonal growth and regener­ ation. It appears timely to review the role played by axonal transport in the intrinsic responses of neurons in the growth and regrowth processes. Through the cooperation of the senior editors of this series, we have been given the opportunity to bring such a focus to the current volume. We wish to acknowledge that the contributing authors attended a confer­ ence on'The Role of Axonal Transport in Neuronal Growth and Regenera­ tion'held in Tallahassee, Florida in March, 1983, sponsored by the Psycho­ biology Research Center of the Florida State University. It is our hope that many of the perceptions and insights expressed in these chapters resulted from our interactions.

Determinants of Neuronal Identity brings together studies of a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate organisms that highlight the determinants of neuronal identity. Emphasis of this book is on how neurons are generated; how their developmental identities are specified; and to what degree those identities can be subsequently modified to meet the changing needs of the organism. This book also considers various techniques used in the analysis of different organisms. This volume is comprised of 15 chapters; the first of which introduces the reader to the specification of neuronal identity in Caenorhabditis elegans. The discussion then turns to neurogenesis and segmental homology in the leech, as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing the development of Retzius neurons in the leech nervous system. Drosophila is discussed next, with particular reference to neuronal diversity in the embryonic central nervous system, cell choice and patterning in the retina, and development of the peripheral nervous system. Other chapters explore endocrine influences on the postembryonic fates of neurons during insect metamorphosis; neuron determination in the nervous system of Hydra and in the mammalian cerebral cortex; and segregation of cell lineage in the vertebrate neural crest. This book will help scientists and active researchers in synthesizing a conceptual framework for further studies of neuronal specification.

Biology and Pathology of Nerve Growth discusses the biochemical basis of cell interaction involved in nerve growth, regeneration, and diseases. This book contains six chapters that focus on neuron-glia interaction. After briefly dealing with the embryological development, this book goes on examining the process of neuronal maturation, myelination, and integration with target tissues. These topics are followed by discussions on the controversial issues of guidance and the nature of the factors that determine the matching of nerve with muscle from morphological and biochemical points of view. The subsequent chapters consider the principle of regeneration as seen in lower animals. Other chapters highlight the issue of reaction to injury. This book further demonstrates the interrelatedness of neural organization and reaction to injury at the cellular and molecular levels. This interrelationship operates on the same biophysical principles across all kinds of animal and plant species. This work is of great value to neurobiologists, developmental biologists, and pathologists.