Defining the microanatomic differences between the human brain and that of other mammals is key to understanding its unique computational power. Although much effort has been devoted to comparative… (More)
Little is known about the expression and possible functions of unopposed gap junction hemichannels in the brain. Emerging evidence suggests that gap junction hemichannels can act as stand-alone… (More)
Astrocytes have traditionally been considered ancillary, satellite cells of the nervous system. However, work over the past decade has revealed that they interact with the vasculature to form a… (More)
White matter of the mammalian CNS suffers irreversible injury when subjected to anoxia/ischemia. However, the mechanisms of anoxic injury in central myelinated tracts are not well understood.… (More)
Parkinson's disease is the most common serious movement disorder in the world, affecting about 1% of adults older than 60 years. The disease is attributed to selective loss of neurons in the… (More)
We tested the hypothesis that astrocytic glycogen sustains axon function during and enhances axon survival after 60 min of glucose deprivation. Axon function in the rat optic nerve (RON), a CNS white… (More)
CNS glycogen, contained predominantly in astrocytes, can be converted to a monocarboxylate and transported to axons as an energy source during aglycaemia. We analysed glycogen regulation and the role… (More)
1. We studied regulation of intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i) in cultured rat hippocampal neurones using fluorescence ratio imaging of the Na+ indicator dye SBFI (sodium-binding benzofuran… (More)
The brain contains glycogen but at low concentration compared with liver and muscle. In the adult brain, glycogen is found predominantly in astrocytes. Astrocyte glycogen content is modulated by a… (More)
1. We measured activity-dependent changes in [K+]o with K(+)-selective microelectrodes in adult rat optic nerve, a CNS white matter tract, to investigate the factors responsible for post-stimulus… (More)