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Advances in Invertebrate (Neuro)Endocrinology: A Collection of Reviews in the Post-Genomic Era (2-volume set) provides an informative series of reviews from expert scientists who are at the forefront of their research into the endocrinology of invertebrates. These two volumes are timely and appropriate in this post-genomic era because of the rapid pace of change brought about by genome projects, functional genomics, and genetics (omics technologies). The volume shows the rich history and strong tradition of cutting-edge research using invertebrates that has opened up our broader understanding of comparative endocrinology and the evolution of regulatory pathways and systems. These reviews set the scene and context for this exciting new era of understanding that has come from this post-genomic revolution.This book undertakes the daunting task of covering most of the diverse endocrine systems that exist among invertebrates. The papers in this book will advance our knowledge of invertebrate endocrinology but also of endocrinology in general, making the book will be valuable to researchers and students.

Advances in Invertebrate (Neuro)Endocrinology: A Collection of Reviews in the Post-Genomic Era (2-volume set) provides an informative series of reviews from expert scientists who are at the forefront of their research into the endocrinology of invertebrates. These two volumes are timely and appropriate in this post-genomic era because of the rapid pace of change brought about by genome projects, functional genomics, and genetics (omics technologies). The volume shows the rich history and strong tradition of cutting-edge research using invertebrates that has opened up our broader understanding of comparative endocrinology and the evolution of regulatory pathways and systems. These reviews set the scene and context for this exciting new era of understanding that has come from this post-genomic revolution.This book undertakes the daunting task of covering most of the diverse endocrine systems that exist among invertebrates. The papers in this book will advance our knowledge of invertebrate endocrinology but also of endocrinology in general, making the book will be valuable to researchers and students.

Endocrinology, as a discipline, was a late arrival in the corpus of established subjects. Its growth in recent years has been prodigious, extending from mor­ phology to molecular levels. Most of the major endocrine glands were noted by the early anatomists, although the adrenal glands were not described until 1563 by Bartholomaeus Eustachius (1520-1574). On the other hand, elucidation of the function of these glands was extremely slow. Key work by A. A. Berthold (1849), although overlooked at the time, showed that comb atrophy in castrated fowl was prevented by testis transplantation. The idea that glands produced substances reach­ ing the bloodstream directly and not via excretory ducts stemmed from Claude Bernard, who first used the term internal secretion in 1855. The clinical observa­ tions of Thomas Addison at Guy's Hospital-published as a monograph in 1855 entitled The Constitutional and Local Effects of Disease of the Suprarenal Capsules -were seminal. However, the stimulus of this early research did not bring imme­ diate widespread further investigations. Upon the discovery of secretin in 1902, Bayliss and Starling considered the term'internal secretion'to be clumsy, and the term'hormone'was coined (from OQ[!UW-1 excite or arouse) and it was first used by Starling in his Croonian of 1905.

Comparative endocrinology helps to find the roots of homeostatic regulation in organisms. In this context, many years ago a series of experiments were done, which demonstrated the hormonal regula­ tion also on the invertebrate level. The mechanisms are partly similar, partly different, from those found in vertebrates. The new receptor era of mammalian endocrinology stimulated research on invertebrate hormone receptors, and sophisticated methods are applied also to determine hormones. The experiments demonstrated the existence and even similar function of these structures and signaling molecules. However, data on hormones and receptors at the lowest level of metazoan life and the highest level of protozoan life were not at our disposal. About two decades ago, first observations on the presence of hormone receptors reacting to vertebrate hormones in protozoa were made. Since the early 1980s we know that hormone-like molecules similar to those of higher vertebrates are present also in unicellular organisms. The presence of some second messengers in Tetrahymena was recognized. Since then, the research has been extended and many structures - previously believed to be solely vertebrate characteristics, such as opiate receptors, similar to mammalian ones - were found in unicellular organisms. These observations justified the assumption of a complete endocrine system at protozoan level, where - considering the unicellularit- this seemed to be not required. However, it became clear that the roots of endocrine communication date back at least 2 billion years.

Comparative Endocrinology, Volume II, Part One: Invertebrate Hormones: Tissue Hormones provides readers with some basic knowledge of animal morphology, physiology, and chemistry; a systematic and comprehensive account of endocrine principles from the comparative point of view. It can therefore be hoped to present a critical and up-to-date picture of the comparative aspects of endocrinology to the medical scientist and zoologist generally, and to furnish an adequately documented background to the research worker who is beginning to take an interest in one of the many endocrine systems described. The subject matter has been divided into three sections. The largest—which forms the contents of the first volume—deals with hormones originating in well-defined glandular organs and tissues and also reviews the relationships between the central nervous system and these endocrine complexes. The second section (Volume II, Part 1) discusses hormonal systems of invertebrates, and the third (Volume II, Part 2) contains a description of neurohormones and tissue hormones.

Vertebrate Endocrinology: Fundamentals and Biomedical Implications, Volume 2: Regulation of Water and Electrolytes provides information pertinent to vertebrate endocrine systems, which has significant contributions to basic biological and biomedical research. This book discusses the practical implications of the endocrinological studies. Organized into 13 chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the comprehensive aspects of endocrinology in mammalian and nonmammalian vertebrates, with emphasis on those systems that affect salt and water balance. This book then discusses the control of secretion as well as the function and biomedical implications of knowledge of secretion and function. Other chapters discuss several topics, including neurohypophysis, adrenal hormones, and pancreatic hormones. This text discusses as well the renin–angiotensin system. The final chapter deals with the changes that occur during vertebrate evolution in smaller peptide hormones, such as the neurohypophysial peptides and the angiotensins. Endocrinologists, biologists, graduate students, and researchers will find this book extremely useful.

Vertebrate Endocrinology: Fundamentals and Biomedical Implications, Volume 1: Morphological Considerations provides information pertinent to vertebrate endocrine systems, which has significant contributions to basic biological and biomedical research. This book discusses the practical implications of the endocrinological studies. Organized into 15 chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the endocrine process in lower vertebrates, which has provided basic information about the understanding of mammalian and human systems. This text then discusses the pituitary gland, which is considered to be functionally and structurally the most complex organ of the endocrine system. Other chapters consider the function of the pineal organ as a sensory organ capable of perceiving light stimuli in poikilothermic vertebrates. This book discusses as well the caudal neurosecretory system in lampreys, hagfish, holocephalans, and dipnoans. The final chapter provides the comparative morphology of the classical vertebrate endocrine organs. Endocrinologists, biologists, graduate students, and researchers will find this book useful.

Comparative Endocrinology: A Treatise in Two Volumes, Volume II, Part One: Invertebrate Hormones, Part Two: Tissue Hormones focuses on animal physiology, morphology, and chemistry and systematic and comprehensive explanation of endocrine principles from the comparative point of view. The selection first offers information on hormones controlling reproduction and molting in invertebrates and the structure of neurosecretory systems in invertebrates. Discussions focus on protozoa, crustacea, insects, and neurosecretory systems of the head, thorax, and abdomen. The text then ponders on bradykinin, angiotensin, and substance P and heparin. The publication examines physiologically active lipid anions and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Topics include biologically active unsaturated fatty acids without alcoholic hydroxyl groups, prostaglandin, endometrial acids in menstrual fluid, turnover rate, and biosynthesis and fate. The manuscript also tackles cholinergic neurohormones and adrenergic neurohormones. The selection is a dependable source of data for readers interested in invertebrate and tissue hormones.

Comparative Endocrinology: A Treatise in Two Volumes, Volume I: Glandular Hormones focuses on animal morphology, physiology, and chemistry and systematic and comprehensive account of endocrine principles from the comparative consideration. The selection first offers information on hypothalamic control of anterior pituitary and neurohypophyseal hormones. Discussions focus on adrenocorticotropin, thyrotropin, gonadotropins, physiological significance of the neurohypophyseal hormones in mammals, and physiological significance of the neurohypophyseal hormones in nonmammalian vertebrates. The text then takes a look at pituitary hormones affecting chromatophores and female gonadal hormones. The publication examines male gonadal hormones and adrenocortical hormones. Topics include action of testicular estrogen and ovarian testosterone, source of sex hormones in the male, factors regulating testicular functions, biochemistry of androgens, and functions of the adrenocortical hormones. The book then tackles chromaffin cell hormones, thyroid hormones, and parathyroid glands. The selection is a dependable source of data for readers interested in glandular hormones.