Numerous phenomenal advances have been made towards understanding the role of neurotransmitters in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders, and these have resulted in a large number of novel molecules with the potential to revolutionize the treatment and prevention of such disorders. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed explanation of brain neurotransmitters and their receptors and associated channels. It includes a basic introduction, and also discusses the functions and recent advances and their pharmacology, highlighting the role of various computer aided drug design (CADD) strategies for the development of therapeutic ligands to modulate these receptors/ion channels. Written in an easy-to-read style, it is intended for neuroscience and pharmaceutical students and researchers working in the area of brain neurotransmitters.
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A comprehensive, multidisciplinary review, Neural Plasticity and Memory: From Genes to Brain Imaging provides an in-depth, up-to-date analysis of the study of the neurobiology of memory. Leading specialists share their scientific experience in the field, covering a wide range of topics where molecular, genetic, behavioral, and brain imaging techniq
With recent studies using genetic, epigenetic, and other molecular and neurochemical approaches, a new era has begun in understanding pathophysiology of suicide. Emerging evidence suggests that neurobiological factors are not only critical in providing potential risk factors but also provide a promising approach to develop more effective treatment and prevention strategies. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide discusses the most recent findings in suicide neurobiology. Psychological, psychosocial, and cultural factors are important in determining the risk factors for suicide; however, they offer weak prediction and can be of little clinical use. Interestingly, cognitive characteristics are different among depressed suicidal and depressed nonsuicidal subjects, and could be involved in the development of suicidal behavior. The characterization of the neurobiological basis of suicide is in delineating the risk factors associated with suicide. The Neurobiological Basis of Suicide focuses on how and why these neurobiological factors are crucial in the pathogenic mechanisms of suicidal behavior and how these findings can be transformed into potential therapeutic applications.
Brain aminergic pathways are organized in parallel and interacting systems, which support a range of functions, from homoeostatic regulations to cognitive, and motivational processes. Despite overlapping functional influences, dopamine, serotonin, noradrenaline and histamine systems provide different contributions to these processes. The histaminergic system, long ignored as a major regulator of the sleep-wake cycle, has now been fully acknowledged also as a major coordinator of attention, learning and memory, decision making. Although histaminergic neurons project widely to the whole brain, they are functionally heterogeneous, a feature which may provide the substrate for differential regulation, in a region-specific manner, of other neurotransmitter systems. Neurochemical preclinical studies have clearly shown that histamine interacts and modulates the release of neurotransmitters that are recognized as major modulators of cognitive processing and motivated behaviours. As a consequence, the histamine system has been proposed as a therapeutic target to treat sleep-wake disorders and cognitive dysfunctions that accompany neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory pathologies. Last decades have witnessed an unexpected explosion of interest in brain histamine system, as new receptors have been discovered and selective ligands synthesised. Nevertheless, the complete picture of the histamine systems fine-tuning and its orchestration with other pathways remains rather elusive. This Research Topic is intended to offer an inter-disciplinary forum that will improve our current understanding of the role of brain histamine and provide the fundamentals necessary to drive innovation in clinical practice and to improve the management and treatment of neurological disorders.
Around one third of all biologically relevant small molecules are organic cations. These include endogenous substances like catecholamines and other neurotransmitters, toxins and drugs designed to affect signaling processes. The organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) is among the strongest expressed membrane transporters at the sinusoidal (blood-facing) side of liver cells and contributes substantially to the clearance of the blood from numerous organic cations. A most striking feature of OCT1 is its pronounced genetic diversity. Between 1 and 10% of all human populations have little to no OCT1 activity. With several of the OCT1 substrates up to 10% of Europeans are functionally OCT1 deficient. Apparently, the lack of OCT1 do not lead to apparent substantial pathological changes in these individuals. It thus appears that this transporter is not essential to human life, but does it means that OCT1 is irrelevant? In the last 25 years since the first cloning of this transporter, data on its pharmacological and physiological relevance is steadily accumulating. Numerous clinically relevant drugs (e.g. metformin, morphine, fenoterol, sumatriptan, tramadol and tropisetron) have been shown to be substrates of OCT1, and OCT1 deficiency has been shown to affect the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or toxicity of these drugs. Also vitamin B1 has been shown to be a substrate of OCT1, and in genetically modified mice OCT1 substantially modulated hepatic lipid metabolism, total body fat and systemic glucose and lipid concentrations. Still, numerous important questions remain unsolved: For which drugs, toxins, or other endogenous or exogenous substances is OCT1 relevant? How can we predict the relevance of OCT1 from in vitro studies? What determines the substrate selectivity of OCT1 in comparison to other transporters or transport processes for organic cations? What regulates the expression of OCT1 in the liver and possibly in other tissues? What is the impact of OCT1 variation in different areas of medicine, including the therapies for cancer as well as for pulmonary, cardiovascular, or neurological diseases? How can evolutionary biology contribute to a better understanding of the roles of OCT1? And, importantly, what types of research are likely to significantly further the knowledge on OCT1 in the next decades?
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychotic disease with schizophrenic and affective i.e. depressive and/or manic symptoms. The disease can result in different patient outcomes depending upon the treatment applied. Patients suffering from the disease have in increased vulnerability towards stress and need an appropriate prophylactic medication so that they can perform social and maybe professional activities. Classical Neurotransmitters and Neuropeptides involved in Schizoaffective Disorder is a brief monograph that gives readers an overview of frequent psychotic diseases affecting patients. The contents of the monograph include details about biochemical alterations of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in specific regions of the human brain, the susceptible genes and cellular mechanisms behind schizoaffective disorder, the neural networks of schizoaffective disorder and prophylactic pharmacotherapies administered to patients. Three case reports which demonstrate the alterations of classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the brain are also presented. This monograph is a useful guide for medical residents and clinicians in training who wish to understand the basics about treating patients suffering from schizoaffective disorder.
This book is designed as an introductory text in neuroendocrinology; the study of the interaction between the brain and endocrine system and the influence of this on behaviour. The endocrine glands, pituitary gland and hypothalamus and their interactions and hormones are discussed. The action of steroid and thyroid hormone receptors and the regulation of target cell response to hormones is examined. The function of neuropeptides is discussed with respect to the neuroendocrine system and behaviour. The neuroimmune system and lymphokines are described and the interaction between the neuroendocrine and neuroimmune systems discussed. Finally, methods for studying hormonal influences on behaviour are outlined. Each chapter has review and essay questions designed for advanced students and honours or graduate students with a background in neuroscience, respectively.
* The most up-to-date and comprehensive coverage of the relationship of brain function and neuroactive chemicals * Authors are world-known leaders in the field * Molecular Neuropharmacology is the hot topic in medicine
