Neurotransmitters And Drugs (croom Helm Biology In Medicine Series)

This book is intended for students of medicine, pharmacy and other biological disciplines, who want to have a working knowledge of the mechanisms of action, uses and adverse effects of drugs which modify the activity of neurotransmitters in the peripheral and central nervous systems. It is suitable for undergraduates and for post-graduates on taught higher degree courses and diplomas. New information and concepts have been incorporated into the text as appropriate, and references have been updated. Excitatoryand inhibitory amino acids are considered in two chapters, and the last chapter of the first two editions (which considered drugs which do not interact selectively with neurotransmitters) has been subsumed into other sections. The third edition follows the tried format of previous editions. Following a chapter which introduces the biology and pharmacology of neurotransmission, subsequent chapters deal with synthesis, storage, release, receptors and inactivation of individual neurotransmitters, together with a consideration of therapeutic uses and mechanisms of adverse effects. Covering the relationship between drugs and neurotransmitters, this volume includes sections on acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, histamine, inhibitory and excitatory amino acids and peptides, examining such aspects as synthesis, storage, release, receptors and inactivation. An understanding of the manner in which therapeutically used drugs modify the nervous system requires knowledge of the functions, distribution and control of neurotransmitters. This well-established textbook provides a concise and systematic introduction to the main neurotransmitter substances in the body, their association with clinical states, and the interaction of therapeutically used drugs within these systems. Each chapter is devoted to a specific neurotransmitter substance, and examines their synthesis, storage, release, receptor interaction and inactivating mechanisms, together with important drugs known to interact selectively with these various mechanisms. The treatment of relevant disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, as well as side effects are discussed. This third edition has been rewritten to reflect recent advances in the field and to incorporate up-to-date references. In particular new material on the structure and function of receptors and on amino acids has been incorporated. Nevertheless, the book retains its compact and didactic style and, in covering all pharmacological aspects of neurotransmission in both the peripheral and central nervous Front Matter....Pages i-ix Neurotransmission: sites at which drugs modify neurotransmission....Pages 1-27 Acetylcholine....Pages 28-49 Noradrenaline....Pages 50-86 Dopamine....Pages 87-115 5-Hydroxytryptamine....Pages 116-132 Histamine....Pages 133-141 Inhibitory amino acids: GABA, glycine and taurine....Pages 142-158 Excitatory amino acids: L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid....Pages 159-168 Peptides and neuronal function....Pages 169-195 Back Matter....Pages 197-204 Neurotransmission : Sites At Which Drugs Modify Neurotransmission -- Acetylcholine -- Noradrenaline -- Dopamine -- 5-hydroxytryptamine -- Histamine -- Inhibitory Amino Acids : Gaba, Glycine And Taurine -- Excitory Amino Acids : L-glutamic Acid And L-aspartic Acid -- Peptides And Neuronal Function. Zygmunt L. Kruk Christopher J. Pycock. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.