we might seek alternative sources of donor tissues. Genetic en- neering,
expansion of precursor cells, generation of immortalized cell lines, and
transplantation between species are all under active investigation.
Although significant difficulties remain for each of these alternatives,
the problems appear soluble and relevant knowledge is expanding rapidly.
As we enter the twenty-first century, the place of neural tra-
plantation in experimental neuroscience is continuing to evolve. Rather
than being a topic in its own right, neural transplantation increasingly
serves as just another technique in the researcher's armory--alongside
lesions, pharmaceuticals, gene transfer, and a variety of other
techniques--for the experimental manipulation of brain structure and
function. This is particularly true for studies of degeneration,
plasticity, regeneration, and recovery of function in the nervous
system, topics of increasing importance as experimental neurobiology is
required to serve the higher needs of neurological and mental health in
aging societies. Within this evolving context, Neural Transplantation
Methods seeks to serve a particular need: to provide experimental neu-
scientists with a source book of information to enable them to select
and adapt transplantation techniques to their own expe- mental programs.
All authors have been asked to address prac- cal issues, to enable the
reader to assess what is available, what are the alternatives, what are
the practical issues to be resolved in applying a particular protocol
and getting it to work reliably in their unique experimental context.
