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SUMMARY:Astrocytic decline and paralysis\, rather than reactivity\, contri
 bute to brain ageing and age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases. - Profe
 ssor Alexei Verkhratsky\, Professor of Neurophysiology\, University of Man
 chester
DTSTART:20230629T153000Z
DTEND:20230629T163000Z
UID:TALK202309@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Stefano Pluchino
DESCRIPTION:Alexei Verkhratsky is an internationally recognised scholar in
  the field of cellular neurophysiology\, best known for his contributions 
 to our knowledge of the physiology and pathophysiology of neuroglia. He wa
 s one of the first to discover the specific expression of neurotransmitter
  receptors in astrocytes and their activation in situ by physiological sti
 mulation. He demonstrated (with H. Kettenmann) matching patterns of neuron
 al and glial receptors\, thus providing the basis for the concept of activ
 e and reciprocal neuronal-glial communications. He demonstrated that these
  receptors are connected to calcium-mediated signalling cascades\, which l
 ed to the important concept of glial calcium excitability. Subsequently he
  developed the concept of sodium ions as a specific signalling molecule co
 ntrolling local homeostatic responses of astrocytes. These discoveries hav
 e made a major contribution to the development of a new doctrine of the fu
 ndamental role of neuroglia in brain function. Verkhratsky also pioneered 
 the emerging field of neurogliopathology\, having characterised astroglial
  asthenia and paralysis as key pathogenetic steps in age-dependent neurode
 generative diseases. In a series of highly cited conceptual papers he outl
 ined basic principles of glial physiology and pathophysiology\, which sign
 ificantly influenced this rapidly developing area of neuroscience. 
LOCATION: Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre Lecture Theatre
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