Neurocytology

Neurons and Interneuronal Connections: a Historical Overview.- Some Evolutionary Aspects and General Features of Neurons.- Shape and Size of Neurons.- Different Types of Neuron.- The Structure of Neurons.- The Perikaryon.- The Nucleus.- Dendrites.- Age-Related Changes.- The Axon.- The Plasma Membrane.- Intercellular Junctions Involving Neurons.- Interneuronal Adherent Junctions.- Interneuronal Chemical Synapses.- Autapses.- The Neuromuscular Junction.- Structural Aspects of Synaptic Activity.- Synaptic Structural Plasticity.- Age-Related Changes.- Relationship Between Axons of the Autonomic Nervous System and Effector Cells.- Electrotonic and Mixed Junctions.- Synapse-Like Junctions Involving Neuroglial Cells.- Other Types of Interneuronal Communication.- The Neuroglia of the PNS.- The Satellite Cells of Sensory and Autonomic Ganglia.- Schwann Cells and the Myelin Sheath.- Other Neuroglial Cells of the PNS.- Functions of the PNS Neuroglia.- Neuron-Glia Communication.- The Neuroglia of the CNS.- Historical Note.- Some Evolutionary Aspects.- The Ependyma.- The Choroid Epithelium.- Astrocytes.- Oligodendrocytes.- NG2-Expressing Cells.- Renewal of the Neuroglial Cell Population.- Microglial Cells.- Historical Note.- Resting Microglia.- Neural Macrophages.- Age-Related Changes.- The Cellular Organization of the CNS.- The Blood Vessels of the CNS.- Arteries.- Capillaries and the Blood-Brain Barrier.- Veins.- Cells Associated with Microvessels.- Age-Related Changes.

During the course of a long university career, which started in 1952, Professor Ennio Pannese headed the Institute of Human Anatomy and later the Institute of Histology, Embryology and Neurocytology at the University of Milan. He did his research during a very intense period of development of the Neurocytology and contributed significantly to the progress of the discipline. He is author of more than 200 scientific articles as well as several books. He is a fellow of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.