title: Role of electrical activity of neurons for neuroprotection.
abstract: Neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) of adult mammals can be damaged in a variety of ways. Most neurons rapidly die after injury. Even if the injured CNS neurons do not die in a short time, the neurons eventually die because they are not able to regenerate their axons to reconnect with their normal targets. In addition, neurons are normally not replaced. Therefore, much work has been directed toward understanding of the molecular regulation of the CNS degeneration following injury, and different experimental strategies are being used to try to protect the damaged neurons. Following axonal lesion, the neurons not only need to survive but also to reconnect to be functionally relevant, and efforts are directed toward not only survival but also axonal regeneration and proper rewiring of injured neurons. Recent experimental data suggest that electrical activity, endogenous or exogenous, can enhance neuronal survival and regeneration in vitro and in vivo. This chapter reviews the evidence that have been obtained on the role of neuronal electrical activity on neuroprotection. We will develop perspectives toward neuroprotection and regeneration of adult lesioned CNS neurons based on electrical activity-dependent cell survival that may be applicable to various diseases of the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Visual Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. takeshi.morimoto@ophthal.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods