Rio-Hortega's Third Contribution to the Morphological Knowledge and Functional Interpretation of the Oligodendroglia

Pío del Rio-Hortega, one of the pioneering neuroscientists and discoverer of microglia, has been recognized as one of the most important Spanish neurohistogists of the past century. His landmark research on oligodendroglia, originally published in Spanish in 1928, has been translated into English for the first time by Dr. José R. Iglesias-Rozas and Prof. Manuel Garrosa. The book establishes definitively the concept of oligodendroglia and describes in great detail its structure, varieties, function, origin and pathology, providing a thorough review. The entire 1928 writing is presented, including the 79 excellent drawings and photographs from the original publication.

To complement the original book and provide historical context, the translators have also included an introduction to the research and a biography of Pío del Rio-Hortega. This book constitutes a milestone in the history of neuroscience, biology and medicine, and it will be valuable reading for researchers and practitioners in these fields.

• First English translation of seminal 1928 research
• Contains the broad descriptions and interpretations of the normal and pathological oligodendroglia
• Full original text and new introductory sections

Researchers and practitioners working on Neuroscience, Glia, Neuroglia, and Oligodendroglia.

Dedication

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Pío del Río-Hortega (1882–1945): A Biographical Sketch

Preface

Preface references

1. Introduction

Denomination

Concept

2. Bibliographic Background

The “Mesoglia Cells” of Robertson

Cajal’s Adendritic Corpuscles

Initial Studies About Oligodendroglia

Confirmation and Discussion

Contradictory Ideas

On the Functional Concept

Relations Between Oligodendroglia and Nerve Fibers

Abnormal Variations

3. Material and Technique

4. Morphological Characteristics of the Oligodendroglia

Nuclei

Soma

Processes

Connections with Nerve Fibers and Vessels

Expansional Plexus

5. Textural Characteristics of Protoplasm in the Oligodendrocytes

Spongioplasm

Gliosomes

6. Morphological Varieties of Oligodendrocytes

First Type

Second Type

Third Type

Fourth Type

Myelin Sheaths and Septa

7. Abnormal Changes in the Oligodendroglia

Autolysis

Progressive Phenomena

Degenerative Phenomena

Phagocytic Intervention

Sideropexy

8. Morphological and Genetic Kinship Between Astrocytes and Oligodendrocytes

Histogenesis

Transitional Forms

9. Morphological and Physiological Parallelism of the Oligodendrocytes and Schwann Cells

Conclusion

References