Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Polypeptide

Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide is the first volume to be written on the neuropeptide PACAP. It covers all domains of PACAP from molecular and cellular aspects to physiological activities and promises for new therapeutic strategies. Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide is the twentieth volume published in the Endocrine Updates book series under the Series Editorship of Shlomo Melmed, MD.

The first comprehensive book to cover all aspects of the last 25 years of PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide) research, this book contains contributions from virtually all the leading researchers in the field, and addresses some of the following topics: evolutionary aspects of PACAP, distribution and occurrence of PACAP and its receptors, hormonal effects of PACAP, intracellular signaling, effects on cellular proliferation and differentiation, protective effects of PACAP, behavioral effects of PACAP, developmental aspects of PACAP, other physiological effects of PACAP (cardiovascular, thermoregulatory), human studies, drug design, metabolism and transport. This compendium can serve as an important reference for researchers and students in PACAP research and can also be a thorough introduction for those in related fields.

This book provides the most up-to-date information on the ever-growing class of peptides with high biological activity, which function as hormones or neurotransmitters and have analogous structures. These peptides include the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP), the Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptides (PACAP 38 and PACAP 27), the Peptide Histidyl-Isoleucylamide and the Histidyl-Methionine Peptide (PHI and PHM), Helodermin, Helospectin, the Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF), Glucagon, the Glucagon-like Peptides I and II, Oxyntomodulin, Glicentin and Secretin.Selection, organization and special subject matter: The contributors to this volume who are leading experts in their fields, present a valuable synopsis of the significant research in the transduction of the peptide signals, and how it helps to maintain the essential environment for cellular functions and adaptation. Contributions are organized around the molecular systems involved in the normal and altered functions of the central nervous system, the endocrine systems and cellular proliferation. In addition, the book identifies potential sites to be targeted for drug design and therapeutic development in the domain of biosynthesis, inflammation and cardiovascular and digestive diseases.This book draws together information from widely-scattered literature and thus obviates the need for time-consuming research on the part of the readers. It is aimed at an international audience of pharmacologists, physiologists, clinical investigators, biochemists and researchers.