Full Description
Elucidation of the important roles played by peptides as hypothalamic-adenohypo- physeal releasing factors, or regulatory hormones, has in recent years led to the recognition that peptides may also be of significance as intercellular messengers in other regions of the nervous system. In this regard, it is interesting that Sub- stance P, which has been proposed as a putative neurotransmitter in the spinal cord, was rediscovered by Leeman and her co-workers during their search for the corticotropin-releasing factor in the hypothalamus. Indeed, with the wide- spread availability and use of radioimmunoassay techniques, it has become ap- parent that various "hypothalamic releasing factors" are localized in extrahypo- thalamic areas of the central nervous system as well. This book represents an expression of the belief that the impact on neurobiology of research into neuro- peptides will be comparable to, if not greater than, the recent achievements obtained with the biogenic amines. As already appears to be the case, future inves- tigations on brain pep tides will undoubtedly uncover a host of new transmitter candidates, with obvious implications for neuropharmacology.
Perhaps the most dramatic developments in this field have been the discoveries of the endogenous opiate peptides (enkephalin and endorphin), and the profound physiological and behavioral effects of specific peptides.
Contents
1 Peptides in Neurobiology: Historical Introduction.- 1. The Neurosecretory Neuron and the Concept of Neurosecretion.- 2. The Hypothalamic Origin of the Posterior Lobe Hormones.- 3. The Hypothalamic Control of the Adenohypophysis.- 4. Nonhormonal Neurosecretory Signals to Endocrine and Nonendocrine Effector Cells.- 5. Peptidergic Interneuronal Communication.- 6. Conclusion.- 7. References.- 2 Application of Fluorescent Techniques to the Study of Peptides.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Preparation of Materials and Equipment.- 3. Isolation of Peptides from Tissues.- 4. Separation and Detection of Peptides.- 5. Applications.- 6. Conclusion.- 7. References.- 3 Specific Problems in the Identification and Quantitation of Neuropeptides by Radioimmunoassay.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Radioimmunoassay for Detection of Well-Characterized Peptides in Nervous Tissues.- 3. Development of Radioimmunoassay Systems for Newly Described Peptides.- 4. Conclusions and Conjectures.- 5. References.- 4 Immunocytochemistry of Neuropeptides and Their Receptors.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Unlabeled Antibody Enzyme Method—Sensitivity of Immunocytochemistry.- 3. Modifications of the Unlabeled Antibody Enzyme Method.- 4. Immunocytochemical Staining of Nervous Tissue.- 5. Neurotransmitter Pathways—Catecholamines and Serotonin.- 6. Hypothalamopituitary Pathways.- 7. Neuropeptide Receptors.- 8. Nonpituitary Neurosecretory Peptide Pathways.- 9. References.- 5 Substance P and Neurotensin.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Guidelines for the Isolation of Biologically Active Peptides.- 3. Guidelines for the Radioimmunoassay of Small Peptides.- 4. Substance P.- 5. Neurotensin.- 6. References.- 6 Biologically Active Peptides in the Mammalian Central Nervous System.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Historical Perspective.- 3. IndirectMethods for Locating Neurosecretory Cells.- 4. Regional Distribution of Selected Peptides.- 5. Conclusion.- 6. References.- 7 Peptides Containing Probable Transmitter Candidates in the Central Nervous System.- 1. General Properties of CNS Peptides.- 2. Peptide and Peptidoamine Synthesis with N-Terminal Acetyl-Asp.- 3. Factors That Affect the Levels and Release of Peptides in the CNS.- 4. A Working Hypothesis of Peptides as the Final Common Pathway of Multisignal Integration.- 5. Specific Examples of the Working Hypothesis.- 6. Conclusion.- 7. References.- 8 Biosynthesis of Neuronal Peptides.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Precursor-Protein (Prohormone) Concept.- 3. Strategy for the Study of Peptide Biosynthesis in Neurons.- 4. Peptidergic Neurons in Aplysia as Model Systems.- 5. Biosynthesis of Neurohypophyseal Peptides and Neurophysin.- 6. Regulation of Neuronal Peptide Biosynthesis.- 7. Biological Significance of the Precursor Mode of Peptide Biosynthesis.- 8. Conclusion.- 9. References.- 9 Conversion and Inactivation of Neuropeptides.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Conversion of Prohormones.- 3. Inactivation of Active Peptides.- 4. References.- 10 Peptides in Invertebrate Nervous Systems.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Coelenterata.- 3. Arthropoda (Crustacea).- 4. Arthropoda (Insecta).- 5. Mollusca.- 6. Echinodermata: Radial Nerve Factor.- 7. Conclusion.- 8. References.- 11 Physiological Roles of Peptides in the Nervous System.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Substance P.- 3. Angiotensin II.- 4. Parvicellular Peptides: Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone—Releasing Hormone.- 5. Magnocellular Peptides: Antidiuretic Hormone (Lysine Vasopressin) and Oxytocin.- 6. Conclusions.- 7. References.- 12 Electrical Activity of Neurosecretory Terminals and Control of Peptide Hormone Release.-1. Introduction.- 2. The Crustacean X-Organ Sinus Gland Neurosecretory System.- 3. General Conclusions.- 4. References.- 13 Endogenous Opiate Peptides.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Opiate Receptor.- 3. Adenylate Cyclase and the Mechanism of Addiction.- 4. Endogenous Opiates.- 5. Physiological Role of Endogenous Opiate Peptides.- 6. References.- 7. Addendum.- 8. Addendum References.- 14 Behavioral Effects of Peptides.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Implication of the Pituitary Gland in Acquisition and Maintenance of Conditioned Avoidance Behavior.- 3. Behaviorally Active Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Fragments.- 4. Behavioral Effects of Vasopressin and Congeners.- 5. General Discussion.- 6. References.
