Physiological, pharmacological and molecular biological data generated over the past three decades have demonstrated the existence of two major families of extracellular receptors, the P1, a family of four G-protein coupled receptors and the P2, a family of at least 12 receptors responsive to purine (ATP, ADP) and pyrimidine (UTP) nucleotides through which adenosine and ATP can function as extracellular messengers. The present two-part volume represents an integrated compendium of invited chapters by leading researchers in the area focusing on advances in the understanding of purinergic and pyrimidinergic signaling systems, their role(s) in tissue function and pathophysiology and advances in developing potential new medications based on the modulation of P1 and P2 receptor signaling processes. The volumes will thus provide the reader with a topical, comprehensive and integrated overview of this important area.

Physiological, pharmacological and molecular biological data generated over the past three decades have demonstrated the existence of two major families of extracellular receptors, the P1, a family of four G-protein coupled receptors and the P2, a family of at least 12 receptors responsive to purine (ATP, ADP) and pyrimidine (UTP) nucleotides through which adenosine and ATP can function as extracellular messengers. The present two-part volume represents an integrated compendium of invited chapters by leading researchers in the area focusing on advances in the understanding of purinergic and pyrimidinergic signaling systems, their role(s) in tissue function and pathophysiology and advances in developing potential new medications based on the modulation of P1 and P2 receptor signaling processes. The volumes will thus provide the reader with a topical, comprehensive and integrated overview of this important area.

In the first 20 years that followed the purinergic signalling hypothesis in 1972, most scientists were sceptical about its validity, largely because ATP was so well established as an intracellular molecule involved in cell biochemistry and it seemed unlikely that such a ubiquitous molecule would act as an extracellular signalling molecule. However, after the receptors for ATP and adenosine were cloned and characterized in the early 1990s and ATP was established as a synaptic transmitter in the brain and sympathetic ganglia, the tide turned. More recently it has become clear that ATP is involved in long-term (trophic) signalling in cell proliferation, differentiation and death, in development and regeneration, as well as in short-term signalling in neurotransmission and secretion. Also, important papers have been published showing the molecular structure of P2X receptors in primitive animals like Amoeba and Schistosoma, as well as green algae. This has led to the recognition of the widespread nature of the purinergic signalling system in most cell types and to a rapid expansion of the field, including studies of the pathophysiology as well as physiology and exploration of the therapeutic potential of purinergic agents. In two books, Geoffrey Burnstock and Alexej Verkhratsky have aimed at drawing together the massive and diverse body of literature on purinergic signalling. The topic of this first book is purinergic signalling in the peripheral and central nervous systems and in the individual senses. In a second book the authors focus on purinergic signalling in non-excitable cells, including those of the airways, kidney, pancreas, endocrine glands and blood vessels. Diseases related to these systems are also considered.

The Encyclopedia of the Neuroscience explores all areas of the discipline in its focused entries on a wide variety of topics in neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and other related areas of neuroscience. Each article is written by an expert in that specific domain and peer reviewed by the advisory board before acceptance into the encyclopedia. Each article contains a glossary, introduction, a reference section, and cross-references to other related encyclopedia articles. Written at a level suitable for university undergraduates, the breadth and depth of coverage will appeal beyond undergraduates to professionals and academics in related fields.

Purinergic receptors are proteins that bind ATP as their extracellular ligand. Once thought only as an intracellular molecule that provides energy, ATP is also now considered an essential autocrine/paracrine agonist that acts extracellularly within tissues and tissue microenvironments. Receptors for ATP and its metabolites, so-called "purinergic receptors," are essential membrane receptors that transduce the extracellular signal carried by ATP. Many cell types or tissues express multiple types of these receptors, often on the same cell. This volume will cover the history and overall impact of extracellular ATP signaling, methods to detect ATP release and signaling, the molecular and cell biology of purinergic receptors, the pharmacology of purinergic receptors, the ion channel biophysics and biochemistry of P2X purinergic receptor channels, and the physiology and pathophysiology of purinergic receptors.Key Features* Organized and written by world-renowned experts* Covers state-of-the-art experimental methods* Has broad appeal to basic and clinical scientists, the biotch industry and pharmaceutical research companies

Intercellular communication is part of a complex system of communication that governs basic cellular activities and coordinates cell actions. The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their environment is the basis of growth and development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in cellular information processing are responsible for diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity, diabetes, and neurological and psychiatric disorders. There is substantial drug development concentrating on this and intercellular communication is the basis of much of neuropharmacology. By understanding cell signaling, diseases may be treated effectively and, theoretically, artificial tissues may be yielded. Neurotransmitters/receptors, synaptic structure and organization, gap junctions, neurotrophic factors and neuropeptides are all explored in this volume, as are the ways in which signaling controls neuroendocrinology, neuroimmunology and neuropharmacology. Intercellular Communication in the Nervous System provides a valuable desk reference for all scientists who consider signaling. - Chapters offer impressive scope with topics addressing neurotransmitters/receptors, synaptic structure and organization, neuropeptides, gap junctions, neuropharmacology and more - Richly illustrated in full color with over 200 figures - Contributors represent the most outstanding scholarship in the field, with each chapter providing fully vetted and reliable expert knowledge

Nearly 30 years ago, a number of scientists working on the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) gathered at Flinders University, in Adelaide, Australia to discuss the advances and future of their research. It was a friendly and stimulating meeting, attended by most of the major players, in what was to become the discipline of ‘Neurogastroenterology'. In 2014, the main Australasian Neuroscience Society meeting was held in Adelaide, Australia, providing the perfect opportunity to recreate a follow-up ENS meeting. As such, the ‘ENS II 2014 meeting’ aimed to identify how far the field of enteric neuroscience had developed, where the future was heading, and what technological advances had been made to address current and future unresolved questions. 30 speakers from around the world were invited to give talks and revisit the original expectations, the advances made since, and the future directions of ENS research. These discussions included three generations of investigators from 7 different countries. This publication represents the majority of proceedings from the ‘The Enteric Nervous System II 2014’ conference, which was held on February 1st - 2nd 2014 at the National Wine Centre of Australia, Adelaide. This meeting was an Official satellite meeting of the 34th Annual Meeting of Australasian Neuroscience Society, which was also held in Adelaide. The 20 contributions contained within this submission are from international researchers in the field of the ENS, who reviewed the advances made since the first meeting in the early 1980s and summarizes the present and future perspectives of neuro-gastroenterology. Some colleagues could not attend but did send greetings and their messages are included in these proceedings.

After some early hints, cotransmission was proposed in 1976 and then “chemical coding” later established for sympathetic nerves (noradrenaline/norepinephrine, adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), and neuropeptide Y), parasympathetic nerves (acetylcholine, ATP, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)), enteric nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory nerves (ATP, nitric oxide, and VIP), and sensory-motor nerves (calcitonin gene-related peptide, substance P, and ATP). ATP is a primitive signaling molecule that has been retained as a cotransmitter in most, if not all, nerve types in both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Neuropeptides coreleased with small molecule neurotransmitters in autonomic nerves do not usually act as cotransmitters but rather as prejunctional neuromodulators or trophic factors. Autonomic cotransmission offers subtle, local variation in physiological control mechanisms, rather than the dominance of inflexible central control mechanisms envisaged earlier. The variety of information imparted by a single neuron then greatly increases the sophistication and complexity of local control mechanisms. Cotransmitter composition shows considerable plasticity in development and aging, in pathophysiological conditions and following trauma or surgery. For example, ATP appears to become a more prominent cotransmitter in inflammatory and stress conditions.

This volume contains the proceedings of the 8th Epioptics Workshop, held at the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture, Erice, Sicily. The book assesses the capabilities of state-of-the-art optical techniques in elucidating the fundamental electronic and structural properties of semiconductor and metal surfaces, interfaces, thin layers, and layer structures. The contributions consider the usefulness of these techniques for optimization of high quality multilayer samples through feedback control during materials growth and processing. Particular emphasis is placed on the theory of non-linear optics and on dynamical processes through the use of pump-probe techniques together with the search for new optical sources. Some new applications of Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy to material science and biological samples, dried and in vivo, with the use of different laser sources are also included.

Pharmacological Mechanisms and the Modulation of Pain, the newest volume in the Advances in Pharmacology series, presents the pharmacological mechanisms and the modulation of pain. With a variety of chapters and the best authors in the field, this volume is an essential resource for pharmacologists, immunologists, and biochemists alike. - Contains contributions from the best authors in the field of pharmacology that focus on the pharmacological mechanisms and modulation of pain - Provides an essential resource for pharmacologists, immunologists, and biochemists