An Introduction to Neuroendocrinology

Michael Wilkinson has forty years of experience in teaching neuroscience and neuroendocrinology to undergraduate and graduate students as a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada. His research laboratory has focused on neurodevelopmental aspects of female reproduction with a specific interest in the neuroendocrine regulation of hypothalamic function, including the impact of sex hormones on sleep. Richard E. Brown is a University Research Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University. He has taught courses on hormones and behavior, measuring behavior and the neurobiology of learning and memory for more than thirty-five years. His research is on mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, Fragile X Syndrome, ADHD and other neurological disorders. He is currently examining the age-related hormonal changes in transgenic Alzheimer's mice.

'This is an up to date, lucidly written and beautifully illustrated textbook which goes far beyond what one would consider 'classic neuroendocrinology' of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. It has a comprehensive overview of the entire endocrine system including hormones secreted by fat, muscle, bone and liver and an excellent chapter on the nervous system, neurotransmitters and their receptors. There is also full coverage of hormone synthesis, transport and how they act on target cells, covering all hormones of the endocrine system. … There are excellent chapter summaries, references and assessment questions both for students and teachers. The beautifully designed figures, all in full colour with comprehensive legends, succinctly summarise many aspects of the text or illustrate scientific data. Numerous tables provide reference summaries. It is a must for all undergraduates and graduate students interested in range of scientific disciplines.' Saffron Whitehead, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London

• Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. Classification of chemical messengers; 2. The endocrine glands and their hormones; 3. The pituitary gland and its hormones; 4. The hypothalamic hormones; 5. Neurotransmitters; 6. Neurotransmitter and neuropeptide control of hypothalamic, pituitary and other hormones; 7. Regulation of hormone synthesis, storage, release, transport and deactivation; 8. Regulation of hormone levels in the bloodstream; 9. Steroid and thyroid hormone receptors; 10. Receptors for peptide hormones, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters; 11. Neuropeptides I: classification, synthesis and colocalization with classical neurotransmitters; 12. Neuropeptides II: function; 13. Cytokines and the interaction between the neuroendocrine and immune systems; 14. Methods for the study of behavioural neuroendocrinology; 15. An overview of behavioural neuroendocrinology: present, past and future; Index.