Neuroprotection Methods and Protocols, 2007
Methods and Protocols
Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Vol. 399

Neuroprotection is a topic of great importance in current neuroscience, both basic and clinical. The incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases could be expected to rise dramatically in the future owing to an aging population. Consequently, finding the means of retarding or preventing the progression of such diseases becomes increasingly important. This book focuses on basic perspective on neuroprotective approaches and scientists well recognized for their work have contributed chapters to this volume. Although findings on neuroprotection in the different pathologies become more and more frequent and detailed, it can be difficult for researchers to orient themselves in such a complicate field. For this reason, this book describes basic science discovery and the application of such research within different laboratories leading to the development of neuroprotective protocols. The main aim of this volume is thus to give an overview of methods used to study neuronal death and neuroprotection and to offer a really comprehensive step-by-step method in order to make clear not just the procedure but also the principles behind the use of it. At this purpose, the ?Notes? section of each chapter represents a useful tool to solve technical problems and to help in reproducing the described methods.

Neuronal Death and Neuroprotection: A Review.- The Use of Propidium Iodide to Assess Excitotoxic Neuronal Death in Primary Mixed Cortical Cultures.- A Modified Silver Technique (de Olmos Stain) for Assessment of Neuronal and Axonal Degeneration.- Model of Acute Injury to Study Neuroprotection.- Organotypic Entorhino-Hippocampal Slice Cultures—A Tool to Study the Molecular and Cellular Regulation of Axonal Regeneration and Collateral Sprouting In Vitro.- Role of Nrf2-Dependent ARE-Driven Antioxidant Pathway in Neuroprotection.- Biochemical Methods to Assess the Coupling of Brain Energy Metabolism in Control and Disease States.- A Method for Isolating Prosurvival Targets of NF-?B/Rel Transcription Factors.- Functional Cloning of Genes Regulating Apoptosis in Neuronal Cells.- Characterization of mRNA Expression in Single Neurons.- Brain on a Chip: A Method to Detect Novel Neuroprotective Candidate Targets.- Intracerebral Infusion of Neurotrophic Factors.- Synthesis of Cell-Penetrating Peptides and Their Application in Neurobiology.- The Stem Cells as a Potential Treatment for Neurodegeneration.- In Vivo Tomographic Imaging Studies of Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection: A Review.

Examines current research into the role of neuronal death in cell signaling pathways The authors cover in vitro and animal systems, and cellular and molecular mechanisms