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With contributions by numerous experts

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The tridecapeptide neurotensin (NT) was first identified in bovine hypothalamic extracts and characterized by Carraway and Leeman (1973,1975,1976) and has subsequently been found in all classes of vertebrates (Carraway and Leeman 1976; Kitabgi et al. 1976; Kataoka et al. 1979; Langer et al. 1979; Reinecke et al. 1980a; Cooper et al. 1981; Grant et al. 1982; Carraway et al. 1982; Eldred and Karten 1983), many invertebrates (Reinecke et al. 1980 b; Grimmelikhuijzen et al. 1981; Price et al. 1982), and certain bacteria (Bhatnagar and Carraway 1981). It is distributed throughout the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) (Uhl and Snyder 1977 a, b), gastrointestinal tract (Sundler et al. 1977; Schultzberg et al. 1980), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), adrenals, pancreas, and plasma (Fernstrom et al. 1980). When administered systemically, the peptide has a variety of effects such as hypotension, hyperglycemia, decreased gastric acid secretion, decreased gut motility, and altered secretion of anterior pituitary hormones (Leeman and Carraway 1982). NT apparently does not cross the blood-brain barrier in appre ciable quantities; however, when administered directly into the CNS, it produces a number of physiological and behavioral effects. A burgeoning body of evidence supports the role of NT as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. Thus far, het erogeneous CNS distribution, release of NT upon neuronal depolarization, satu rable and specific binding of NT to receptors, and degradation by peptidases have all been demonstrated.

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Principles for the Hormone Regulation of Wiring Transmission and Volume Transmission in the Central Nervous System.- Clinical Studies with Corticotropin Releasing Hormone: in Depression and Related Disorders whitfield.- Biological Rhythms and Mood Disorders.- Recurrent Affective Disorders: Lessons from Limbic Kindling.- The Mechanisms of Action of Antipsychotics and Antidepressant Drugs 117.- Catecholamines and Mood: Neuroendocrine Aspects.- Serotonin and Mood: Neuroendocrine Aspects.- Cholinergic Mechanisms in Mood: Neuroendocrine Aspects.- The Psychobiology of Neurotensin.- Cholecystokinin and Mood.- Opioid Peptides and Mood: Neuroendocrine Aspects.- The Neuroendocrinology of Anorexia Nervosa.- Effects of Peripheral Thyroid Hormones on the Central Nervous System: Relevance to Disorders of Mood.

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Detlev Ganten, geb. 1941, zählt zu den herausragenden Persönlichkeiten in der europäischen Forschungslandschaft. Er ist u.a. Gründungsdirektor des Max-Delbrück-Centrums für molekulare Medizin, Professor für Klinische Pharmakologie an der FU Berlin, Mitglied im Nationalen Ethikrat und Vizepräsident der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.

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