The Stomach as an Endocrine Organ

The intestines are known to harbour numerous different populations of hormone-producing endocrine cells. It is probably less well known that the stomach is also remarkably rich in endocrine cells, most of which remain unidentified in functional terms. Many meetings have been devoted to the subject of intestinal hormones, but this is the first to focus on the endocrine cells and neurohormonal peptides of the stomach. The symposium was organized at a time when work in the field was beginning to gain momentum. The book contributes to understanding of how gastric hormones control local as well as distant functions but also points out the gaps in our knowledge about these phenomena. This volume presents both answers and a number of fascinating and challenging questions for future research in the field.