Enteric Glia (Colloquium Series on Neuroglia in Biology and Medicine: From Physiology to Disease) - Softcover

Gulbransen, Brian D.

 
9781615046607: Enteric Glia (Colloquium Series on Neuroglia in Biology and Medicine: From Physiology to Disease)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 1615046607 ISBN 13: 9781615046607
Publisher: Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences, 2014

Synopsis

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex neural network embedded in the gut wall that orchestrates the reflex behaviors of the intestine. The ENS is often referred to as the “little brain” in the gut because the ENS is more similar in size, complexity and autonomy to the central nervous system (CNS) than other components of the autonomic nervous system. Like the brain, the ENS is composed of neurons that are surrounded by glial cells. Enteric glia are a unique type of peripheral glia that are similar to astrocytes of the CNS. Yet enteric glial cells also differ from astrocytes in many important ways. The roles of enteric glial cell populations in the gut are beginning to come to light and recent evidence implicates enteric glia in almost every aspect of gastrointestinal physiology and pathophysiology. However, elucidating the exact mechanisms by which enteric glia influence gastrointestinal physiology and identifying how those roles are altered during gastrointestinal pathophysiology remain areas of intense research. The purpose of this e-book is to provide an introduction to enteric glial cells and to act as a resource for ongoing studies on this fascinating population of glia.

Table of Contents: Introduction / A Historical Perspective on Enteric Glia / Enteric Glia: The Astroglia of the Gut / Molecular Composition of Enteric Glia / Development of Enteric Glia / Functional Roles of Enteric Glia / Enteric Glia and Disease Processes in the Gut / Concluding Remarks / References / Author Biography

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About the Author

Department of Physiology, Michigan State University

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Publisher
Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences
Publication date
2014
Language
English
ISBN 10 
1615046607
ISBN 13 
9781615046607
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
70