Nerve Membranes: A Study of the Biological and Chemical Aspects of Neuron-Glia Relationships presents the various aspects of neuronal and glial structure and function. This book provides an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of neuron-glia relationships and of membranes in the nervous system. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with an overview of the function of the biological membranes to improve, retard, and regulate the rate of cellular reactions. This text then determines the differences in the organization of the cells in the nervous system in the vertebrates and the invertebrates. Other chapters examine the role of certain intermolecular forces and of water in the organization of lipid-protein and lipid-lipid associations. This book reviews as well the theories of biological membrane structure and considers how these contribute towards understanding the methods by which membranes perform their role. This book is a valuable resource for neuroscientists, neurochemists, and researchers.

PrefaceAcknowledgments1 Introduction2 Consideration of Some Features of the Organization and Ultrastructure of Nervous Systems I. Neurons A. Neuronal Processes B. The Fine Structure of the Soma II. Neuroglia A. The Neuroglia in Vertebrates B. The Neuroglia in Invertebrates III. The Organization of Nervous Tissue A. General Organization B. Neuron-Neuron Relationships-Synapses C. Morphological Relationship between Neurons and Glia in Invertebrates D. Morphological Relationship between Neurons and Glia in Vertebrates E. Some Features of Neuron and Glia Relationships Common to Both Invertebrates and Vertebrates3 The Functions of Glia and Aspects of Functional Neuron-Glia Interrelationships I. Myelination II. Trophic and Metabolic Relationships A. Trophic Function of Glia in Invertebrates B. Neuronal Nutrition and Trophic Function of Glia in Vertebrates III. The Role of Glia in the Water and Ion Balances of the Nervous System and in the Blood Brain Barrier A. Vertebrates B. Invertebrates IV. Electrical Activity and Glia4 Extracellular Space and the Pathways of Ions and Nutrients I. Introduction II. Ground Substance III. The Extent of the Extracellular Space A. Evidence from Electron Microscopical Studies B. Estimations from Studies with Tracer Molecules C. Estimations from Measurements of Electrical Impedance IV. Glia, Extracellular Space, and the Pathways of Ions and Nutrients5 Structure and Function in Biological Membranes: Background Material I. Monolayers, Bilayers, Micelles, and Liquid Crystals: Definitions II. Intermolecular Forces A. The Hydrogen Bond B. Electrostatic Forces C. Polarization or Induction Forces D. London-van der Waals Dispersion Forces III. Water Structure and Hydrophobic Bonding A. Hydrophobic Bond Formation IV. Semiconductivity, Piezoelectricity, and Ferromagnetism A. Semiconductivity B. Piezoelectricity C. Ferromagnetism V. Chemistry of Electron Microscopy VI. Synthetic Membrane Systems A. Lipid Bilayers B. Monolayers C. Liquid Crystals (Mesophases)6 Structure and Function in Biological Membranes: Recent Theories I. Membrane Composition II. Molecular Organization in Membranes A. Bimolecular Leaflet Models B. Dynamic Micellar Models C. Membranes as Repeating Subunits D. A Mosaic or Lattice Model E. Other Views on Biological Barriers F. Bioenergetics7 Structure and Function in Neural Membranes: Chemical Composition, Some Recent Theories, and Conclusions Regarding Present Knowledge of Neuron-Glia Interrelationships I. The Diversity of Membranes in Nervous Systems II. Chemical Composition of Nervous Systems A. Mature Myelin B. Differences between Central and Peripheral Nervous System Myelin C. Developing Myelin D. Neuronal Soma, Synaptosomes, and Subcellular Particles E. Gangliosides and Neural Membranes F. Glia G. A Summary of the Differences in Chemical Composition between Neural Membranes III. Some Recent Theories of Structure and Function in Neural Membranes IV. Conclusions Regarding Present Knowledge of Neuron-Glia InterrelationshipsAppendix: An Outline Classification of AnimalsReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index