This two-volume book provides the first comprehensive survey of opioid research, an area in which a tremendous amount of literature has accumulated since the identification of opioid receptors and their endogenous ligands. In more than 60 chapters experts represent state-of-the art reviews of this fascinating field. The topics range from molecular biology to clinical application. Part I covers the multiplicity of opioid receptors (characterization, distribution, regulation, etc.), the chemistry of opiates and biochemistry of opioid peptides (gene expression, biosynthesis, inactivation, receptor selectivity of ligancs, etc.) as well as the neurophysiology of opioids and their molecular actions.

Inhalt
Section A: Opioid Receptors/Multiplicity.- 1 Opioid Receptor Multiplicity: Isolation, Purification, and Chemical Characterization of Binding Sites.- 2 Expression Cloning of cDNA Encoding a Putative Opioid Receptor.- 3 Characterization of Opioid-Binding Proteins and Other Molecules Related to Opioid Function.- 4 Use of Organ Systems for Opioid Bioassay.- 5 Anatomical Distribution of Opioid Receptors in Mammalians: An Overview.- 6 Opioid Receptor Regulation.- 7 Multiple Opioid Receptors and Presynaptic Modulation of Neurotransmitter Release in the Brain.- 8 Opioid Receptor-G Protein Interactions: Acute and Chronic Effects of Opioids.- 9 Opioid Receptor-Coupled Second Messenger Systems.- 10 Allosteric Coupling Among Opioid Receptors: Evidence for an Opioid Receptor Complex.- Section B: Chemistry of Opioids with Alkaloid Structure.- 11 Chemistry of Nonpeptide Opioids.- 12 Selective Nonpeptide Opioid Antagonists.- 13 Presence of Endogenous Opiate Alkaloids in Mammalian Tissues.- Section C: Opioid Peptides.- 14 Regulation of Opioid Peptide Gene Expression.- 15 Regulation of Pituitary Proopiomelanocortin Gene Expression.- 16 Molecular Mechanisms in Proenkephalin Gene Regulation.- 17 Proopiomelanocortin Biosynthesis, Processing and Secretion: Functional Implications.- 18 Biosynthesis of Enkephalins and Proenkephalin-Derived Peptides.- 19 Prodynorphin Biosynthesis and Posttranslational Processing.- 20 Anatomy and Function of the Endogenous Opioid Systems.- 21 Atypical Opioid Peptides.- 22 Opioid Peptide Processing Enzymes.- 23 Peptidase Inactivation of Enkephalins: Design of Inhibitors and Biochemical, Pharmacological and Clinical Applications.- 24 Coexistence of Opioid Peptides with Other Neurotransmitters.- 25 Interrelationships of Opioid, Dopaminergic, Cholinergic and GABAergic Pathways in the Central Nervous System.- 26 Selectivity of Ligands for Opioid Receptors.- 27 Development of Receptor-Selective Opioid Peptide Analogs as Pharmacologic Tools and as Potential Drugs.- 28 Ontogeny of Mammalian Opioid Systems.- Section D: Neurophysiology.- 29 Opioids and Sensory Processing in the Central Nervous System.- 30 Opioid Actions on Membrane Ion Channels.