This book presents the latest exciting advances in understanding of the structure and function of myelin in the central and peripheral nervous systems under normal and pathological conditions. Readers will find state of the art information from the perspectives of both basic neuroscience and clinical neurology and neuropathology. Detailed attention is paid to the findings and implications of recent research on the myelin-forming glial cells such as oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. The discussion of myelin pathology encompasses a wide range of diseases and conditions, including, for example, multiple sclerosis, Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, brain tumors of glial cell origin, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, immune-mediated neuropathy, and diabetic neuropathy. The authors comprise researchers at the cutting edge of biotechnology and experts in the diseases discussed. The clearly written text is supported by numerous high-quality light and electronmicroscopy, CT, and MR images.

Autorentext
Kazunori Sango, MD, PhD, Associate Director & Project LeaderDiabetic Neuropathy Project, Department of Sensory and Motor SystemsTokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
Junji Yamauchi, PhD, Associate Professor & Group LeaderDepartment of Pharmacology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
Toru Ogata, MD, PhD, DirectorDepartment of Rehabilitation for the Movement Functions, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Center for Sport Science and Health Promotion, Tokorozawa, Japan
Keiichiro Susuki, MD, PhD, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and PhysiologyBoonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA

Inhalt
Part 1. Myelination in neural development and regeneration.- 1. Cellular signal-regulated Schwann cell myelination and remyelination.- 2.Regulatory mechanism of peripheral nerve myelination by glutamate-induced signaling.- 3.Cytoskeletal signal-regulated oligodendrocyte myelination and remyelination.- 4.Activity-dependent myelination.- 5.Heterogeneity of oligodendrocytes and their precursor cells.- Part 2. Specialized structures along the myelinated nerve fibers.- 6.Functional domains in myelinated axons.- 7.Physiology of myelinated nerve conduction and pathophysiology of demyelination.- 8.Under the ECM dome: the physiological role of the perinodal extracellular matrix as an ion diffusion barrier.- 9.Oligodendrocyte physiology modulating axonal excitability and nerve conduction.- 10.Mitochondrial dynamics in physiology and pathology of myelinated axons.- 11.The role of sulfatides in axon-glia interactions.- 12.Structures and molecular composition of Schmidt-Lanterman incisures.- Part 3. Myelin pathology in the central nervous system.- 13.Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: molecular and cellular pathologies and associated phenotypes.- 14.Multiple sclerosis.- 15.Visualization of myelin for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of multiple sclerosis.- 16.Roads to formation of normal myelin structure and pathological myelin structure.- 17.Therapeutic strategies for oligodendrocyte-mediated remyelination.- 18.Brain tumors of glial cell origin.- Part 4. Myelin pathology in the peripheral nervous system.- 19.Schwann cell and the pathogenesis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.- 20.Guillain- Barré Syndrome.- 21.Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.- 22.Schwann cells as crucial players in diabetic neuropathy.- 23.Drug-induced demyelinating neuropathies.- 24.Transthyretin amyloid neuropathy: the Schwann cell hypothesis.