Neuroendocrinology (eBook)

Dr. David. A. Lovejoy, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Neuroendocrinology 3
Contents 9
Preface 13
Acknowledgments 15
1 History of Neuroendocrinology and Neurohormones 17
Introduction 17
Early history of physiology 18
Renaissance and the growth of western science 28
Scientific revolution 36
The 19th-century physiology and medicine 41
Neurosecretion and the hypothalamus–pituitary regulation 47
Chapter summary 50
2 Origin of Life and the First Signalling Molecules 53
Introduction 53
Theories of the evolution of the first cells 54
The first cells 63
The first true signalling molecules 73
Chapter summary 76
3 Rise of Metazoans and the Elaboration of Signalling Systems 77
Introduction 77
Colonialism and multicellularity 78
The elaboration of hormone pathways 83
Nervous systems and rudimentary neuroendocrine systems 94
Increase in genetic complexity and the rise of triploblastic organisms 98
Chapter summary 99
4 Elaboration of Neuroendocrine Systems 101
Introduction 101
Elaboration of nervous system and development of organismal complexity 102
Nervous and neuroendocrine systems in phylogenetically younger invertebrates 107
Nervous and neuroendocrine systems in the deuterostomes 111
Peripheral and autonomic nervous systems 115
Blood–brain barriers 116
Cerebrospinal fluid and the choroid plexus 119
Neurohaemal and circumventricular organs: Neurovascular interfaces 120
Hypothalamus–pituitary gland complex 122
Chapter summary 131
5 Neurohormones and Receptors: Structure, Function and Co-evolution 135
Introduction 135
Orthology and paralogy 136
Structural description of non-peptide ligands 138
Peptide and polypeptide signalling molecules 147
Structure and classes of receptors 153
Receptor–ligand interactions 161
Receptor–ligand co-evolution 162
Chapter summary 164
6 Osmoregulation, Metabolism and Energy Production 165
Introduction 165
Osmoregulation 166
Role of prolactin 177
Feeding and appetite regulation 182
Neural circuitry associated with feeding 189
Chapter summary 199
7 Growth and Development 205
Introduction 205
Growth and the growth hormone, prolactin, somatolactin superfamily 206
Metamorphosis and development 214
Sexual differentiation 221
Mechanisms of ageing 224
Chapter summary 227
8 Biological Rhythms 231
Introduction 231
Origin of biological clocks 232
Circadian rhythms 233
Infradian rhythms 236
Clock circuitry in vertebrates 240
The role of melatonin 244
Chapter summary 255
9 Stress, Arousal and Homeostatic Challenge 259
Introduction 259
Physiology and behaviour associated with stress 260
Components of the stress-response system 262
Corticotrophin-releasing factor superfamily of peptides 270
Proopiomelanocortin and adrenocorticotrophic hormone 277
Integration of HPA/I components with other systems 278
Complementary neuroendocrine circuits associated with stress 281
Chapter summary 288
10 Reproduction 291
Introduction 291
Selection of sexual reproduction 292
Regulation of reproduction 292
Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone 298
Gonadotrophins and their regulation 304
Neuroendocrine regulation of the HPG axis 311
Pregnancy, parturition and lactation 314
Seasonal reproduction 316
Reproduction and stress 317
Chapter summary 321
11 Behaviour, Learning and Memory 323
Introduction 323
Basic behavioural circuits 323
Memory 326
Motivation: Reward and fear 326
Stress and the modulation of learning and behaviour 330
Hormonal facilitation of behaviour 332
Galanin modulation of neurological circuits 339
An integrated approach to behavioural modulation 340
Neurodegeneration and trauma 341
Chapter summary 343
12 Pheromones and Chemo-attractants 345
Introduction 345
Evolution of pheromones 346
Classification of pheromones 348
Pheromones in invertebrates 348
Pheromones in vertebrates 353
Physiological actions of vertebrate pheromones 356
Pheromones in mammals 358
Chapter summary 360
13 Xenobiotics and Hormone Mimics 361
Introduction 361
Types of xenobiotics 361
Vertebrate toxins and defences 364
Toxins and xenobiotics in invertebrates 369
Toxins and hormone mimics in plants 373
Hormone mimics from anthropogenic sources 378
Chapter summary 379
Glossary 381
References 383
Index 405

"...every student of this discipline is encouraged to read and
digest the important information included in this well-written
volume." (The Quarterly Review of Biology, June 2006)

"...provides important context for the development of
neuroendocrinology." (Doody's Health Services)

" A clearly written introduction to neuroendocrinology from a
zoological and evolutionary perspective" (Pediatric
Endocrinology Reviews (PER) Volume 3: March 2006)