Main description:

In the middle of the 17th century, the great French philosopher Rene Descartes wrote (L'Homme, J. Le Gras, Paris, 1669) that a suitable stimulation of the brain results in two types of "movements": exterior movements, designed to seek desirable ends and to avoid undesirable or harmful ones and interior movements or "passions" which through the release of "animal spirits" regulate the heart, the liver, and other organs. When it appears appropriate to meet a threat with force, the passion of rage causes the release of strong spirits, whereas when avoidance appears to be the better choice, the passion of fear causes the brain to release weak spirits. We do not know what influence, if any, Descartes had on the thinking of Walter B. Cannon (Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage, Appleton and Co. , New York, 1920), of Hans Selye (The Story of the Adaptation Syndrome, Acta, Inc. , Montreal, 1952), ofG. W. Harris or of R. Guillemin (Hypothalamic-Hypophysial Interrelationships. A Sym posium. c. c. Thomas, Springfield, 1956), but it is interesting to reflect upon the durable value of great ideas which constantly resurface even if modified by other ideas and by new techniques, as if propelled by a preordained intellectual imperative.

Contents:

1. Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones: Physiopathology and Clinical Applications.- Chemical and Biologic Properties of GnRH.- Physiology of GnRH.- Abnormal GnRH Secretion.- Clinical Applications of GnRH and of Its Analogs.- Conclusions.- 2. Corticotropin-Releasing Factors.- Historical Perspectives.- Corticotropin-Releasing Factors.- Tissue Distribution of CRH.- CRH in Blood and CSF.- CRH Receptors.- Administration of Exogenous CRH.- Conclusions.- 3. The Neurobiology of Anorexia Nervosa: An Auto-Addiction?.- Overview of Anorexia Nervosa.- The Auto-Addiction Opioid Hypothesis.- Summary.- 4. The Pineal and Its Indole Products: Basic Aspects and Clinical Applications.- Anatomic Connections of the Visual System with the Pineal Gland.- Transynaptic Regulation of Pineal Indoleamine Metabolism.- Pineal Serotonin Metabolism.- Factors Influencing Pineal and Plasma Melatonin Levels.- Melatonin in Other Body Fluids.- Final Comment.- 5. Neuropeptides and Glucose Metabolism.- History.- Neuropeptides and Changes in Blood Glucose Levels.- Clinical Implications of Hyperglycemic Neuropeptides.- Summary and Conclusions.- 6. Feedback Regulation of Growth Hormone Secretion.- Regulation of GH Secretion.- Receptors for Insulin, IGF-I, and IGF-II in the Pituitary.- Feedback Regulation of GH by IGF-I.- Pituitary IGF-I.- Conclusion.- 7. Brain Adenosine and Purinergic Modulation of Central Nervous System Excitability.- Release of Adenosine and ATP.- Inactivation of Released Purines.- Binding of Ligands to Purinergic Receptors.- Localization of Adenosine Receptors.- Adenosine Actions at the Cellular Level.- Behavioral Actions of Adenosine.- Neuroendocrine Effects of Adenosine.- Conclusions.