Intercellular Communication

✍ Scribed by Eva B. Griepp, Jean-Paul Revel (auth.), Walmor C. De Mello (eds.)

• Publisher: Springer US
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 262
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Progress made in the last 20 years clearly indicates that the cell surface is an extremely dynamic structure involved in fundamental processes such as cell motility, innervation, and cell adhesion. Of particular interest is the finding that, in several tissues, the cell surface is differen­ tiated at the intercellular region, thereby providing communicating chan­ nels between apposing cells. Although our actual knowledge of the precise structures and mecha­ in the complex process of intercellular communication is still nisms involved scanty, evidence has been presented that ions and molecules diffuse from cell to cell, establishing a physiological continuum. Embryonic differentia­ tion, cell growth, neoplasia, electrical synchronization in nerve and mus­ cles, as well as immune response seem to be related to ceIl communication. In organizing this volume, it has been our intention to provide the reader with an actual review of the processes involved in intercellular communication in normal tissues as well as in neoplasia. We sincerely believe that the opinions and experiences described herein will be of help in establishing new perspectives for the future of this exciting new field of cell biology. We wish to thank all the colleagues who joined us in the organization of this volume, as well as Plenum Publishing Corporation for making its appearance possible.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Gap Junctions in Development....Pages 1-32
Cell Contact Phenomena and Their Implication in Cell Communication....Pages 33-59
Junctional Permeability and Its Consequences....Pages 61-86
Intercellular Communication in Heart Muscle....Pages 87-125
Protein Semiconduction: An Alternative Explanation of Electrical Coupling....Pages 127-143
Intercellular Communication and Cancer....Pages 145-172
Cell Interactions in Neuroblastoma....Pages 173-199
Cell Communication in the Immune Response....Pages 201-230
Intercellular Communication in the Early Embryo....Pages 231-251
Back Matter....Pages 253-255

✦ Subjects

Neurosciences