Gap Junctions in the Brain: Physiological and Pathological Roles

Gap junctions between glial cells or neurons are ubiquitously expressed in the mammalian brain and play a role in brain development including cell differentiation, cell migration and survival, and tissue homeostasis, as well as in human diseases including hearing loss, neuropathies, epilepsy, brain trauma, and cardiovascular disease. This volume provides neuroscience researchers and students with a single source for information covering the physiological, behavioral and pathophysiological roles of gap junctions in the brain. In addition, the book also discusses human disease conditions associated with mutations in single gap junction connexion genes, making it applicable to clinicians doing translational research. Finally, it includes reviews of pharmacological studies with gap junction blockers and openers, summarizing information obtained from phenotyping gap junctions mouse mutants.

Serves as the most current and comprehensive reference available covering the physiological, behavioral and pathophysiological roles of gap junctions in the brainChapters summarize knowledge of the basic physiology of gap junctions in the brain, as well as of human disease conditions associated with mutations in single gap junction connexin genesIncludes reviews of pharmacological studies with gap junction blockers and openers, summarizing information obtained from phenotyping gap junctions mouse mutants

Section I: Physiology of gap junctions in the brain

Section II: Gap junctions between astrocytes, neurons, and glia-neuron interactions

Section III: The role of gap junctions in brain development, neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity

Section IV: Gap junctions and neuronal synchronization

Section V: Gap junctions and neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases

Section VI: Gap junctions and behavior