In vertebrates, the nervous system consists of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). The central nervous system contains the brain and spinal cord. White matter is one of the two components of the CNS and consists mostly of myelinated axons whereas grey matter consists of neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, glial cells, and blood vessels. The brain and spinal cord are isolated from the rest of the body by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents most types of macromolecules from going into the interior of the CNS.

The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs. The peripheral nervous system is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system processes sensory information and controls all voluntary muscular systems within the body through the action of skeletal muscles. The autonomic nervous system mediates involuntary activities such as heartbeat and breathing. It sends fibers to three tissues: cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glandular tissue. The autonomic nervous system is divided into the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is always active at a basal level and becomes more active during times of stress. It functions in actions requiring quick responses. The parasympathetic nervous system, quite opposite to the sympathetic nervous system, makes the body to rest and digest.

The signals are produced and propagated by ions that create an action potential (a short-term change in the electrical potential on the surface of a cell) that moves along the neuron. Within the neuron membrane there are gated ion channels that vary in type. The fast response channels are sodium (Na+) channels that are voltage-gated and are used to send rapid signals. Signals can be also generated and propagated by other charge-carrying ions, including potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), and calcium (Ca2+). Ion channels can be also classified by gating, i.e. by what opens and closes the channels. Voltage-gated ion channels open or close depending on the voltage gradient across the plasma membrane, while ligand-gated ion channels open or close depending on binding of ligands to the channel. SABiosciences' Neuroscience Ion Channels and Transporters PCR array can be used to profile different ion channels and membrane transporters in your samples.

Neurons communicate with one another through synapses. Synapses are functional connections between neurons or between neurons and other types of cells. Though there are chemical, electrical, and immunological synapses, in most contexts, a "synapse" usually means chemical synapse. Most synapses connect axons to dendrites. Synapses pass information directionally from a presynaptic cell to a postsynaptic cell. The presynaptic terminal contains neurotransmitters enclosed in small membrane-bound spheres called synaptic vesicles whereas the postsynaptic cell contains neurotransmitter receptors. Between the pre- and post-synaptic cells there is a gap about 20 nm wide called synaptic cleft. The membranes of the two adjacent cells are held together by cell adhesion proteins. Once released, the neurotransmitters are rapidly taken up by the next neuron. Neurons differ in the type of neurotransmitter they manufacture and can be classified as cholinergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic neurons. SABiosciences' Neurotransmitter Receptors and Regulators PCR array can be used to study the mRNA expression of different neurotransmitters.

Neurotrophins are a family of growth factors that promote the survival of neurons and induce differentiation of progenitor cells to form neurons. They include nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3(NT-3), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), and novel neurotrophin-1 (NNT1). There are two classes of receptors for neurotrophins: p75 and the "Trk" family of tyrosine kinases receptors. SABiosciences' Neurotrophins and Receptors PCR array is a great tool for neurotrophin profiling.

Glial cells are non-neuronal cells and function as partners to neurons. They surround neurons and hold them in place, supply nutrients and oxygen to neurons, insulate one neuron from another, and destroy pathogens and remove dead neurons. The glial cells can be divided into two categories: microglia and macroglia. Microglia cells are specialized mobile macrophages derived from hematopoietic precursors and capable of phagocytosis in brain and spinal cord. Macroglia cells are bigger. The most abundant type of macroglial cells are astrocytes. Oligodendrocytes are another type of macroglia cells that coat axons in the CNS with their cell membrane forming a specialized membrane differentiation called myelin. Similar to oligodendrocytes, Schwann cells provide myelination to axons in the PNS.

In vertebrates, the landmarks of embryonic neural development include the derivation and differentiation of neurons from stem cell precursors, the migration of immature neurons from their birthplaces in the embryo to their final positions, outgrowth of axons from neurons and guidance of the motile growth cone through the embryo towards postsynaptic partners, the generation of synapses between these axons and their post-synaptic partners, and finally the lifelong changes in synapses which are presumed to underlie learning and memory. New neurons are continually born throughout adulthood in predominantly two regions of the brain: the subventricular zone lining the lateral ventricles, where the new cells migrate to the olfactory bulb;  and the subgranular zone, which is part of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. SABiosciences provides Neurogenesis and Neural Stem Cell PCR array to study elements involved in neurogenesis process.

There are some intensively studied neurological disorders: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and depression. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration together with declining activities of daily living and behavioral changes. The amyloid (an insoluble fibrous protein in the cells) hypothesis suggests an amyloid-related mechanism that neuronal connections in the brain in the fast-growth phase of early life may be affected by aging-related processes in later life to cause neuronal death. SABiosciences' Alzheimer's Disease PCR array can be used to explore the aberrant changes of different genes. Parkinson's disease is another neurodegenerative disease caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. It is a movement disorder characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, and physical movement disability. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is another form of neurodegenerative disease. The name multiple sclerosis refers to scars in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Demyelination or the loss of the myelin sheath insulating the nerves leads to MS. In MS, the body's own immune system attacks and damages the myelin. When myelin is lost, the axons can no longer effectively conduct signals. Autism is a genetic disease, although the genetics of autism is complex and unclear. It is distinguished by a characteristic triad of symptoms: impairments in social interaction; impairments in communication; and restricted interests and repetitive behavior. The general term "depression" is often used to describe the major depressive disorder. The understanding of the nature and causes of depression indicates biological, hereditary, psychological, and social origins. Most anti-depressant medications increase the levels of one or more monoamines - the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine - in the synaptic cleft between neurons in the brain.

SABiosciences' cataloged or customized PCR arrays provide a powerful tool to study the mechanisms involved in the complicated neuron activities and disorders.