This volume explores the quickly evolving field of Purinergic signaling, and examines how receptors for ATP and other nucleotides, and receptors for adenosine, act in neuronal transmission, control of synaptic activity, proliferation, differentiation and cell death regulation in the CNS. This book focuses on the participation of purinergic receptors and ectonucleotidases, degrading ATP into adenosine, in embryonic and adult neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo as well as in synaptic transmission and pathophysiology. Further, the chapters discuss varying brain diseases, including Parkinsons, and Alzheimers disease, autism, mood disorders and epilepsy, as well as brain tumors, in the context of purinergic signaling and its clinical aspects. The development of purinergic receptor agonists is also an important issue of this book. This book provides a critical review of the current state of science and will be useful for both scientists and students who are or would like to get involved in this area. Furthermore, this book addresses neuroscientists, physician and professionals from the industry, who would like to update themselves in this exciting and rapidly growing field of neuroscience.

Prof. Henning Ulrich studied Biology at the Universities of Hamburg and Kiel (Germany) and performed his master thesis in Biochemical Parasitology, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry and Neuroscience at the University of Hamburg, Germany. He completed his training by postdoctoral research at the Centre of Molecular Neurobiology at the University of Hamburg and Cornell University, NY, the latter one financed by a fellowship of the American Heart Association. He came to the Institute of Chemistry at the Sao Paulo University as a visiting scientist, where he was then appointed as faculty member. He is Full Professor and head of the Laboratory of Neuroscience. He is internationally recognized for his work on purinergic signaling, stem cells and mechanisms of neurogenic differentiation and neurodegeneration. Dr. Ulrich has published more than 250 papers in peer-reviewed journals (H-factor of 50, ca. 9,500 citations), 4 books (3 of them published with Springer), 30 book chapters and participated in 4 patents. His research results were commented in major Brazilian newspapers. His is editorial board member of renowned journals, Associate Editor of Cytometry A, Academic Editor of PLoS ONE, Associate Editor of Purinergic Signalling, Section Editor of Stem Cell Reviews & Reports and Life. Prof. Peter Illes has studied medicine in Budapest at the Semmelweis University of Medicine and has been Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Freiburg and afterwards Full Professor and Director of the Department of Pharmacology of the University of Leipzig, Germany. Presently he holds a Chair at the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China. He has obtained numerous awards and distinctions; he is also member of several professional organizations such as the Academia Europaea or the Czech Learned Society. He has been awarded by honorary Doctorates in Budapest, Hungary, and Chengdu, China and with a number of Honorary Professorships. He is neuroscientist with special emphasis on two types of ATP-sensitive receptors, belonging to the P2X3 and P2X7 class. These receptors regulate pain sensation and neurodegenerative processes, respectively. Dr. Illes has published more than 400 papers in peer-reviewed journals (H-factor of 60) and edited 3 books. He has been or is presently editorial board member of about 10 journals and is Editor-in-Chief of the Section Molecular Pharmacology of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IF=4.556). Dr. Talita Glaser studied Biology at São Paulo University (Brazil) and performed her PhD thesis in Biochemistry and Neuroscience at the same university. She completed her training during PhD in Kyoto University followed by postdoctoral research training at the University of São Paulo and Harvard Medical School. She is actually a postdoctoral fellow at the laboratory of Prof. Henning Ulrich at the University of São Paulo. Even as a young investigator, her work on purinergic signalling and stem cells are well cited and known internationally. Dr. Glaser has published over 40 papers in peer-reviewed journals and (H-factor of 19, ca. 1284 citations) 6 book chapters. The results of her research were commented on by major Brazilian newspapers.