Neural and Endocrine Biology

This volume marks the coming of age of knowledge concerning the neural and endocrine biology of the gut. It is the first volume in the Handbook of Physiology to be devoted entirely to this field. It is also the very first volume ever published that deals systematically with the biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, and physiology of hormonal and neural peptides of the gut. Written by some forty recognized experts, Neural and Endocrine Biology details the discoveries of a field that is now just twenty-five years old. The early chapters address general topics and provide a broad overview of the field, including information on immunocytochemistry of endocrine cells and enteric neurons and the physiological significance of hormonal, paracrine, and neural peptides. Fourteen of the volume's twenty-eight chapters are devoted to individual hormonal and neural peptides--their distribution, pharmacology, and physiological and cellular functions. The final chapter offers an overview of recently discovered peptides, including pancreastatin and two neural peptides, galanin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Neural and Endocrine Biology will be a welcome new resource for graduate students, instructors, and active researchers and clinicians who need a complete, up-to-date reference in regulatory peptides and gastrointestinal physiology and pharmacology.