Main description:

Since the pioneering discovery of cyclic AMP four decades ago, a multitude of signaling pathways have been uncovered in which an extracellular signal (first messenger) impacts the cell surface, thereby triggering a cascade that ultimately acts on the cell nucleus. In each cascade the first messenger gives rise to the appearance of a second messenger such as cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP, or diacylglycerol, which in turn triggers a third messenger, a fourth messenger, and so forth. Many advances in elucidating such pathways have been made, including efforts to link messenger molecules to brain processes operative in health or disease. However, the latter type of information, relating signaling pathways to brain function, is scattered across a variety of publication media, which makes it difficult to integrate the multiple roles of different signaling cascades into our understanding of brain function in health and disease. The primary aim of Cerebral Signal Transduction: From First to Fourth Messengers, therefore, is to offer a comprehensive picture of the recent advances made in the signaling field as it relates to neuronal and cere bral function. The current state of progress provides an exciting opportunity for such a comprehensive focus because molecular tools have become available to selectively remove, reduce, or enhance spe cific components in the signaling pathways, e. g. , by interfering with the genes encoding key proteins. In addition, the increased awareness of crosstalk between different signaling cascades has revealed many possibilities for changes in gene expression underlying long-term changes in brain function.

Contents:

Part I. Introduction. From First To Fourth Messengers in the Brain: An Overview, M. E.A. Reith. Part II. Memory. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Learning and Memory, M. Lattal and T. Abel. Signal Transduction Pathways in Well-Defined Models of Learning and Memory: Drosophila and Honeybee, U. Muller. Protein Kinase C Signaling in Learning and Memory, E.A. Van der Zee, B.R.K. Douma, J.F. Disterhoft, and P.G.M. Luiten. Part III. Neurodegeneration and Apoptosis. Neurotransmitter Receptor-G-Protein Mediated Signal Transduction in Alzheimer's Disease, R.F. Cowburn. The NO Signaling Pathway in the Brain: Neural Injury, Neurological Disorders, and Aggression, M. Sasaki, V. L. Dawson, and T. M. Dawson. Cellular Signaling Pathways in Neuronal Apoptosis: Role in Neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's Disease, C.W. Cotman, H. Qian, and A.J. Anderson. The Role of Second Messengers in Neurodegeneration, A. Frandsen, J. B. Jensen and A. Schousboe. Part IV. Depression. Molecular and Cellular Determinants of Stress and Antidepressant Treatment, R.S. Duman. Long-Term Bidirectional Hormonal and Neuroplastic Responses to Stress: Implications For the Treatment of Depression, R.M. Post, S.R.B. Weiss, L.-X. Zhang, and M.G. Xing. Signal Transduction Abnormalities in Bipolar Affective Disorder, P.P. Li, S. Andreopoulos, and J.J. Warsh. Part V. Drug Dependence. Messengers in Opioid Dependence: Gene Disruption Studies, R. Maldonado and O. Valverde. The 5-HT1B Knockout Mouse: An Animal Model of Vulnerability to Drugs of Abuse, K. Scearce-Levie and R. Hen. Regulation of Dopamine Transporter By Phosphorylation and Impact on Cocaine Action, R.A. Vaughan. Dopamine Transporter mRNA in Human Brain: Distribution and Regulatory Effects in Autopsy Studies of Cocaine Abusers, D.C. Mash, L.C. Kramer, D. Segal and S. Izenwasser. Index.