Distinguished researchers review the latest scientific understanding of spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on the mechanisms causing paralysis after spinal cord trauma, the molecular determinants of neural regeneration, and methods for improving damaged function. The authors examine the role of intracellular Ca2+ in neuronal death, the possibility of spinal learning, growth-promoting molecules for regenerating neurons, and the biochemistry and cell biology of microtubules. Among the treatment possibilities discussed are cell transplantation strategies beyond the use of fetal spinal cord tissue, remyelination in spinal cord demyelination models, high steroid therapy immediately after SCI, and the mixed use of anti- and proinflammatories. Comprehensive and highly promising, Neurobiology of Spinal Cord Injury summarizes and integrates the great progress that has been made in understanding and combating the paralysis that follows spinal cord injury.

Inhalt
1 Cell Death, Repair, and Recovery of Function after Spinal Cord Contusion Injuries in Rats.- 2 Calcium and Neuronal Death in Spinal Neurons.- 3 The Spinal Cat.- 4 Organization of the Spinal Locomotor Network in Neonatal Rat.- 5 Strategies for Spinal Cord Repair: Clues from Neurodevelopment.- 6 Transduction of Inhibitory Signals by the Axonal Growth Cone.- 7 Elaboration of the Axonal Microtubule Array During Development and Regeneration.- 8 Transplants and Neurotrophins Modify the Response of Developing and Mature CNS Neurons to Spinal Cord Injury: Axonal Regeneration and Recovery of Function.- 9 Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury Repair.- 10 Experimental Approaches to Restoration of Function of Ascending and Descending Axons in Spinal Cord Injury.- 11 Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Spinal Cord Injury Therapies.