The Melanotropic Peptides: Proceedings of a New York Academy of Sciences Conference, September 6-9, 1992(v. 680 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences)

This volume of conference papers evaluates recent findings on the biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology of melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH) and melanin-concentrating hormones (MCH). Current knowledge on hormonal and neuromodulator/neurotransmitter functions of melanotropins is also presented.

Table of Contents:
Keynote Lecture - The Discovery of the Melanotropins - a History of Pituitary Endocrinology, Aaron B. Lerner. Part I Opening Lectures From Proopiomelanocortin to Cancer - Possible Role of Convertases in Neoplasia, Majambu Mbikay et al; Melanotropins as Neuropeptides, D. de Wied; Melanotropins as Growth Factors, Fleur L. Strand et al. Part 11 Chemistry of Melanotropins: Design, Synthesis and Conformation of Supetpotent and Prolonged Acting Melanotropins, Victor J. Hruby et al; Chemistry of Malanin-Concentrating Hormone, Hiroshi Kawauchi et al; Pigment-Dispersing Hormones, K. Ranga et al; Part 111 Regulation of Biosynthesis: Morphofunctional Aspects of Melanotropic Cells Developing In Situ and In Vitro, F. Rene et al; Structure and Regulation of the Melanin-Concentrating Hormone Gene, Jean-Louis Nahon et al; Part IV Regulation of Processing and Secretion: Control of Melanotrope Cell Activity in Xenopus laevis, E. W. Roubos et al; Mammalian Paired Basic Amino Acid Convertases of Prohormones and Proproteins, Nabil G. Seidah et al; Peptidylglycine (alpha-Amidating Monooxygenase and Other Processing Enzymes in the Neurointermediate Pituitary, Betty A. Eipper et al; A View of the N-Acetylation of alpha-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone and beta-Endorphin from a Phylogenetic Perspective, Robert M. Dores et al; Multihormonal Regulation of Pituitary Melanotrophs, C. Tonon et al; Analysis of Inositol Phosphate Metabolism in Melanotrope Cells of Xenopus laevis in Relation to Background Adaptation, B.G. Jenks et al. Part V Electrophysiological Activity of Pituitary Melanotrophs: Modulation of GABAA Receptor Channels and Calcium Currents in Cultured Porcine Melanotrophs, R. Schlichter et al; Multiple Control of Calcium Channel Gating by Dopamine D2 Receptors in Frog Pituitary Melanotrophs, Jack A. Valentijn et al; Calcium Signals in Melanotrophs and Their Relation to Autonomous Secretion and Its Modification by Inhibitory and Stimulatory Ligands, Williani W. Douglas and Izumi Shibuya. (part contents).