Main description:

In mammals, a robust physiologic system acts to maintain relative constancy of weight. A key element of this system is leptin. The nature of this "brain-somatic" cross talk is as yet poorly understood, but it is likely to have important implications for the pathophysiology and treatment of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

Contents:

Introduction.-Interactions of growth hormone secretagogues with Leptin-sensitive brain networks.-Role of the growth hormone secretagogue receptor in the central nervous system.-Adipose tissues as part of the immune system: Role of Leptine and cytokines .-Regulation of galanin-like peptide (GALP) in the brain and posterior pituitary: A review.-Regulation of body weight homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation.-Ghrelin and the Growth hormone neuroendocrine axis.-Ghrelin: From GH control to feeding behaviour and sleep regulation.-Leptin, growth and reproduction.-Effect of Leptin on fatless mice.-An emerging role of Leptin in clinical psychiatry.-Genomic approach to common human obesity.-The epigenetic inheritance hypothesis.-Subject index