editorial: brain extracellular space: geometry, matrix and physiological importance

Editorial: Brain Extracellular Space: Geometry, Matrix and Physiological Importance

Brain Extracellular Space: Geometry, Matrix and Physiological Importance

What is ECS and why is it important? rain tissue is essentially composed of two regions: cellular elements (neurons and glial cells), and the gap between the elements, which is known as the extra-cellular space (ECS; Figure 1) (Sykova & Nicholson, 2008). The ECS resembles the water phase of a foam and remains a highly connected domain even though it is convoluted in shape and may form dead-spac...

Importance of geometry of the extracellular matrix in endochondral bone differentiation

Subcutaneous implantation of coarse powders (74-420 micron) of demineralized diaphyseal bone matrix resulted in the local differentiation of endochondral bone. However, implantation of matrix with particle size of 44-74 micron (Fine matrix) did not induce bone. We have recently reported that the dissociative extraction of coarse matrix with 4 M guanidine HCl resulted in a complete loss of the a...

Diffusion in brain extracellular space.

Diffusion in the extracellular space (ECS) of the brain is constrained by the volume fraction and the tortuosity and a modified diffusion equation represents the transport behavior of many molecules in the brain. Deviations from the equation reveal loss of molecules across the blood-brain barrier, through cellular uptake, binding, or other mechanisms. Early diffusion measurements used radiolabe...

Extracellular Matrix Modulates Angiogenesis in Physiological and Pathological Conditions

Angiogenesis is a multistep process driven by a wide range of positive and negative regulatory factors. Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in the regulation of this process. The degradation of ECM, occurring in response to an angiogenic stimulus, leads to degradation or partial modification of matrix molecules, release of soluble factors, and exposure of cryptic sites with pro- and...

Editorial Extracellular Matrix Proteomics in Cardiac Ischemia / Reperfusion

Prolonged myocardial ischemia leads to myocyte necrosis, which initiates a localized inflammatory response that catabolizes the cellular debris and initiates deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.1 In addition to providing a vital structural framework for the three-dimensional organization of cells, the ECM determines the physical properties of biological tissues and acts as a dynam...