ABSTRACT

Advances in immunology, cell biology, and neurobiology have led to the recognition of specific markers for different cell types of the central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous systems [18]. This has improved understanding of normal nervous system ontogeny and function. Continued improvements in monoclonal antibody production, DNA cloning, immunochemistry, and immunohistochemistry will quicken the pace of acquisition of new knowledge in the neurosciences, and this will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on concepts of neoplastic and nonneoplastic diseases of the nervous system [47,60]. Such research efforts will also result in the introduction of new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system diseases; in fact, this is taking place already.