Methods in Neurosciences, Volume 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Microscopy is a collection of papers that deals with microscopic techniques in statistical measures. This volume describes microscopy using sophisticated stains and dyes to advance observation of tests and experiments. Section I describes autoradiography including micro chemical methods, high-resolution autoradiography, and single- or double-label quantitative autoradiography for use in imaging of brain activity patterns or determining cerebral physiology. Section II discusses the quantification of structures through statistical and computational methods including dynamic video imaging technology. Section III explains the use of tracers, toxins, or dyes in tracing neuronal connections. One paper addresses the use of small injections of axonally transported fluorescent tracers. Section IV explains staining technology such as using the silver impregnation method for frozen sections of human nervous tissue that are gathered from tissues preserved in formalin. Section V addresses freezing techniques and those using freeze-fracture methods in neurobiology. The text also discusses cryoprotection and other freezing methods to control ice crystals found in fixed or unfixed brain tissues. Section VI presents the combined and high-resolution methods in polarization microscopy and microscopic investigations. Cellular biologists, micro-chemists, and scientific researchers in the field of micro- and cellular biology will appreciate this book.

Contributors to Volume 2PrefaceVolumes in SeriesSection I General Approaches to Preparation of Cell Cultures 1. Multiple Approaches to Brain Culture 2. Culture and Use of Primary and Clonal Neural Cells 3. Generation of Astrocyte Cultures from Normal and Neoplastic Central Nervous System 4. Isolation of Astrocytes and Schwann Cells for Culture 5. Culture Methods for Oligodendrocyte Cell Lines and Oligodendrocyte-Type 2 Astrocyte Lineage Cells 6. Neuropharmacological Analyses in Organotypic Cultures of Spinal Cord and Dorsal Root Ganglia 7. Isolation, Culture, and Use of Viable Central Nervous System Perikarya 8. Cerebral Cortical Neurons in Primary Culture and Application to Neuropharmacological StudiesSection II Purification of Cell Types 9. Preparation of Highly Purified Populations of Neurons, Astrocytes, and Oligodendrocytes 10. Preparation, Enrichment, and Growth of Purified Cultures of Neurons and Photoreceptors from Chick Embryos and from Normal and Mutant MiceSection III Bulk Isolation 11. Bulk Isolation of Mouse Oligodendrocytes by Gradient Centrifugations 12. Bulk Isolation and Culture of Oligodendroglia from Mature BrainSection IV Special Approaches 13. Measurement of Pulsatile Hormone Release from Perifused Pituitary Cells Immobilized on Microcarriers 14. Cultivation of Nerve and Muscle Cells on Microcarriers 15. Monolayer and Three-Dimensional Culture of Rat and Human Central Nervous System: Normal and Malignant Cells and Their Interactions 16. Brain Cell Culture in Rotation-Mediated Aggregates 17. Microcultures of Dissociated Primary Central Nervous System Neurons 18. Long-term Organotypic Culture of Central Nervous System in Maximow AssembliesSection V Functional Assessment 19. Preparation and Use of Morphological Variants to Investigate Neuropeptide Action 20. In Vivo Tissue Culture: Use of Ectopic Anterior Pituitary Gland to Study Neuropeptide and Steroid Actions on Adenohypophysis 21. Evaluation of Catecholaminergic Activity in Hypothalamic Cultures 22. Receptors for Bombesin/Gastrin-Releasing Peptide and Epidermal Growth Factor on Central Nervous System Cells 23. Use of Hypothalamic Cell Cultures to Study Role of Diffusible Factors in Phenotypic Expression of Central Nervous System NeuronsSection VI Cell Lineage 24. Microinjectable Probes for Tracing Cell Lineage in Development 25. Methods for Clonal Analysis and Tracing Cell Lineages of Vertebrate Central Nervous SystemIndex