Development and Regeneration of the Nervous System

The application of modern techniques from molecular biology to problems of development, coupled with new methods of immunocytochemical staining have brought a revolution to our understanding of pattern formation in the developing embryo and of the cellular interactions that regulate nervous tissue regeneration in the mature organism.

Current work on the trophic and cellular interactions that regulate the growth and guidance of regenerating nerves offer hope that medicine may one day be able to help the neurologically damaged patient.;The chapters in this volume encompass a diversity of approaches to the problems of development.

The authors, which include a representative sample of some of the leading figures in developmental neurobiology, have directed their attention at six main themes: pattern formation in the early embryo; theories of spatial pattern formation in development and the formulation of morphogenic rules; nerve growth and regeneration within the central nervous system; the role of glia in nervous system development and regeneration; cell recognition in neural histogenesis and as it affects the dynamics of axonal growth, target recognition and axonal regeneration; nervous system plasticity and memory.;In selecting the topics for this volume the aim of the editors is to focus upon recent highlights in developmental neurobiology as well as to explore the problems and prospects for future applications in medicine.