Selective Vulnerability in the Nervous System Book Chapter

Magby, J, Richardson, J. (2018). Selective Vulnerability in the Nervous System . 6-15 41-49. 10.1016/B978-0-08-100601-6.02188-8

cited authors

  • Magby, J; Richardson, J

abstract

  • There are a number of factors that give rise to the selective vulnerability of the nervous system to toxic insult. This chapter attempts to give an overview to allow the reader to better understand what about the nervous system produces vulnerability to toxic insult as well as give some examples of neurotoxins and how they affect the brain. This chapter presents the events during development such as migration and differentiation as well as gene expression and neurotrophic guidance that if disrupted can result in permanent dysfunction of the nervous system. This chapter also presents the functional aspects of the mature brain such as metabolic demand, high lipid content, and lack of functional reserve that present targets for toxic insult of the mature brain. Finally, this chapter concludes with an overview of region specific neurotoxins such as methylmercury (MeHg) and the cerebellum, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and dopaminergic neurons, and trimethyltin (TMT) and the hippocampus, and how the unique cellular physiologies produce specificity for these toxins.

publication date

  • January 1, 2018

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

International Standard Book Number (ISBN) 13

start page

  • 41

end page

  • 49

volume

  • 6-15