Monday, April 18, 2011

adult neurogenesis may contribute to the functioning, and phyio- and pathology of the CNS, particularly to the etiology of neurological diseases and disorders

Neuroinflammation is a process in which the brain responds to infections, diseases and injuries [1, 2]. Neuroinflammation involve two types of immune cells: lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages of the hematopoietic system, and microglial cells of the CNS [3, 4]. Neuroinflammation disrupts the blood-brain barrier (BBB), allowing cells from the hematopoietic system to leave the blood stream and come in contact to the injury site [5]. The immune cells respond to injuries by eliminating debris and, synthesizing and releasing a host of powerful regulatory substances, like the complements, cytokines, chemokines, glutamate, interleukins, nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species and transforming growth factors [6-10]. The substances have both beneficial and harmful effects on the cellular environment, creating further damages [11] (fig. 1). Mature astrocytes are also activated following injury to the CNS [12, 13]. 


Chronic inflammation during depressive episodes could predispose depressive patients to neurodegenerative diseases, later in life [29].
http://www.medsci.org/v05p0127.htm

The cerebral vessels became hypersensitive to epinephrine after cervical sympathectomy

The cerebral vessels became hypersensitive to epinephrine after cervical sympathectomy.
HERTZMAN, A. B., AND DILLON, J. B.
Annual Review of Physiology
Vol. 4: 187-214 (Volume publication date March 1942)