Membrane Fusion and Syncytial Neuronal Cytoplasmic Connection

In this monograph, for the first time, results of systematic studies of cytoplasmic syncytial connections in the vertebrate and invertebrate nervous system are presented. It has been shown that in the nervous system, apart from chemical synapses and electrical membranous contacts, the third type of interneuronal communications exists ? the cytoplasmic syncytial connection. Absolute criteria are developed, which allow revealing syncytial connections in light microscopy preparations and in tissue culture plexuses, as well as in electron microscopy investigations. For the first time, the method of artificial syncytial fusion of mass of living neurons in experiment was developed. It was shown that neurons, like cells of all other types, are capable for the enucleation with formation of karyoplasts and cytoplasts. This book is of interest to neurophysiologists, neuromorphologists, and neuropathologists, as well as to lecturers in the corresponding general courses about the neuron.