John Edmond Knihy

New light is thrown upon brain development and neurodegeneration through this special issue of 'Developmental Neuroscience'. In a unique blend of views and approaches derived from basic science, dietetics and clinical research, it focuses primarily on the effects of altered cerebral energy metabolism. The importance of recently recognized prenatal cerebral programming, together with the adequacy of the supply to the neonate of glucose and dietary lipids is emphasized. Mechanistic aspects of birth asphyxia and ischemic brain damage focusing especially upon apoptosis are presented both at macro- and at the intracellular level. The valuable contributions MRS and near infrared spectroscopy can play in defining new treatments are revealed. The important functional concept of the glial-neuronal metabolic unit is highlighted as well as how this unit responds to oxidative stress injury and nerve growth factors. This issue enhances that which was known, provokes many new questions, and stresses the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Authored by internationally recognized scientists, this special issue of Developmental Neuroscience presents selected papers from the Second International Meeting on Brain Energy Metabolism held at Blaubeuren, Germany, in 1995. It expands the research focus dealing with functional aspects of energy metabolism in neural tissue that was presented at the first meeting at Carcassonne in 1993. New evidence is presented on the complexity and importance of the continuous dynamic trafficking of key substances between astrocytes and neurons, all promoting significant roles for the astroglial cell population in the metabolic integrity of neural tissue. The latest studies shed new light on current issues of neural amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. Papers deal with metabolic mechanisms for cellular responses to stress and damage from a variety of insults, and develop insights on the interrelationships and interdependence of the different neural cell populations. This up-to-date publication incorporates a wealth of knowledge and points to new directions in research which are of significance to a broad spectrum of developmental neuroscientists as well as to researchers in physiology, biochemistry and nutrition with an interest in brain energy metabolism.