Brain Damage and Repair: From Molecular Research to Clinical Therapy

Front Matter....Pages i-xiv
The Aging Brain — the Burden of Life (?)....Pages 1-22
Gene Expression and Its Regulation in Neurons....Pages 23-31
Morphological Peculiarities of the Neuron....Pages 33-45
Synaptic Plasticity: Hyperexcitability and Synaptic Silencing....Pages 47-59
The Axonal Burden....Pages 61-77
The Self-Destruction of Neurons Physiological and Pathophysiological Decisions for the Functional Integrity....Pages 79-93
The Organelles, I: Mitochondrial Failure And Neurodegeneration....Pages 95-110
The Organelles II: Endoplasmic Reticulum and its Overload....Pages 111-121
Transcriptional Dysfunctions as Pathogenic Mechanism of Neurodegenerative Diseases....Pages 123-133
Formation of Radicals....Pages 135-164
Axon Guidance and Repulsion. The Molecular Code of Social Life in the Brain....Pages 165-179
Microglia and the Cerebral Defence System....Pages 181-202
Generation and Differentiation of Astrocytes During Central Nervous System Development And Injury....Pages 203-213
Oligodendrocytes in Health and Disease....Pages 215-230
The Myelin Glial Cell of the Peripheral Nervous System: The Schwann Cell....Pages 231-243
The Müller Glia: Role in Neuroprotection....Pages 245-257
Neural Plasticity and Regeneration: Myths and Expectations....Pages 259-273
Neuronal Protection Against Oxidative Damage....Pages 275-284
Functional Recovery in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System After Injury....Pages 285-305
Neural Plasticity and Cell Biology of Learning....Pages 307-321
Neural Plasticity and Central Nervous System Lesion Repair....Pages 323-348
Regulation of the Intrinsic Growth Properties in Mammalian Neurons....Pages 349-363
Glutamate, Calcium and Neurodegenerative Disease: Impact of Cytosolic Calcium Buffers and Their Potential Role for Neuroprotective Strategies....Pages 365-379
Postnatal Neurogenesis and Neuronal Regeneration....Pages 381-390
Migration Disorders and Epilepsy....Pages 391-402
Invasive Strategies as Therapeutic Approaches for Central Nervous System Diseases....Pages 403-421
General Aspects of Neuropharmacology in Relation to Brain Repair Following Trauma....Pages 423-437
Stem Cells and Nervous Tissue Engineering....Pages 439-450
Cell Transplants and Artificial Guides for Nerve Repair....Pages 451-471
Modern Late Neurologic Rehabilitation: Neuroscience and Motivating Functional Rehabilitation....Pages 473-482
Viral Gene Delivery....Pages 483-502
General Remarks on the Bridging Between Basic Research and Clinics....Pages 503-509
Mechanical Lesions of the Peripheral Nervous System....Pages 511-526
Stroke and Ischemic Insults....Pages 527-535
Parkinson’s Disease I: Degeneration and Dysfunction of Dopaminergic Neurons....Pages 537-548
Parkinson’s Disease II: Replacement of Dopamine and Restoration of Striatal Function....Pages 549-561
Alzheimer’s Disease....Pages 563-573
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Related Disorders....Pages 575-588
Pharmacological Strategies for Neurodegeneration and Overview of Clinical Trials....Pages 589-615
Monitoring Brain Dysfunction through Imaging Techniques....Pages 617-627
Functional Assessment of Human Brain with Non-Invasive Electrophysiological Methods....Pages 629-642
Legal Implications of Therapeutic Options — Stem Cell Procedures, Cloning and Patents....Pages 643-657
Back Matter....Pages 659-721