Central Regulation of the Endocrine System

Abstract

Opening address.- Session I. The Peptidergic Neuron.- Neuroendocrine regulation: The peptidergic neuron Introduction and historical background.- The biochemistry of peptidergic neurons.- Hypothalamic hormones regulating pituitary (and other) functions: Their physiology and biochemistry as well as recent studies with their synthetic analogues.- Presynaptic mechanisms in peptidergic neurons.- Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides: Distribution patterns and cellular localization as revealed by immuno-cytochemistry.- Activation of release and mechanism of release of neurohypophyseal hormones.- Studies on the release and degradation of hypothalamic releasing hormones by the hypothalamus and other CNS areas in vitro.- Postsynaptic mechanisms in peptidergic transmission.- The role of GTP in the coupling of hormone receptors and adenylate cyclase.- Interactions between hypothalamic and peripheral hormones at the anterior pituitary level.- Peptide and neurotransmitter receptors in the brain: Regulation by ions and guanyl nucleotides.- Neurophysiology of hypothalamic peptidergic neurons.- The opioid receptors and their ligands.- Session II. Transmitter and Neuropeptide Synaptic Mechanisms.- Regulation of the ?-adrenergic receptor in the pineal gland and red cell membranes.- Cyclic nucleotide and protein phosphorylation mechanisms in the central nervous system.- Contrasting principles of synaptic physiology: Peptidergic and non-peptidergic neurons.- Regulation of neuropeptide release in rat brain.- Studies on interactions of epinephrine neuronal systems with other neuronal systems.- Effect of peptides on brain monoamines and on gross behaviour.- Session III. Hormonal Control of Peptidergic Neurons.- Current approaches to steroid hormone-cell interactions.- Steroid hormone receptors in brain and pituitary.- Feedback effects on central mechanisms controlling neuroendocrine functions.- Pituitary neuropeptides and behavior.- Sexual differentiating actions of steroids on the hypothalamopituitary-liver axis.- Session IV. Interactions Between Hormones and Neurotransmitters in the Control of Peptidergic Neurons.- Neurotransmitters in the control of anterior pituitary function.- Neurotransmitter mechanisms in the control of the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary.- Session V. Controls of Peptidergic Neurons in Humans.- Control of peptidergic neurons in humans. An introduction.- Studies of the role of dopamine in the control of prolactin and gonadotropin secretion in humans.- Neurotransmitter control of growth hormone and prolactin secretion.- Clinical neuroendocrine relationships in normal and disordered prolactin secretion.- Session VI. Reporters' Overviews.- Role and regulation of neuropeptide neurons.- Some principles of neuronal regulation at the postsynaptic level.- Reporter's remarks.- Overview of Session IV: Interactions between hormones and neurotransmitters in the control of peptidergic neurons.- Discussion of clinical neuroendocrinology section.- Participants.