In 1957 Otto SCHAUMANN, one of the pionieers in pharmacological research on morphine and the first to prepare synthetic opiates, presented a mono graph entitled "Morphin und morphiniihnliche Verbindungen" as Volume 12 of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. Now, 35 years later, we are publishing in the same series a new comprehensive volume covering the present status of opioid research. Since that time the topic has expanded enormously. The identification of opioid receptors and the detection of their endogenous ligands were landmarks which opened a new era in opioid research and fertilized the entire field of neurobiology. The rapid develop ment of this field is illustrated in the figure, which represents the number of papers published on opioid research since 1970 (searches performed on the MEDLINE data base). 3000

Inhalt
Section E: Pharmacology and Behavior.- 31 Brainstem Mechanisms of Pain Modulation: Anatomy and Physiology.- 32 Supraspinal Opioid Receptors in Antinociception.- 33 The Spinal Actions of Opioids.- 34 Peripheral Mechanisms of Opioid Analgesia.- 35 Acupuncture and Stimulation Produced Analgesia.- 36 Multiple Opioid Systems and Chronic Pain.- 37 Gastrointestinal Effects of Opioids.- 38 Role of Endogenous Opioids in Central Cardiovascular Regulation and Dysregulation.- 39 Physiological Functions of Opioids: Temperature Regulation.- 40 Opioid Mechanisms in the Control of Food Consumption and Taste Preferences.- 41 Opioids in Respiration and Vomiting.- 42 Opioid Systems and Stress.- 43 Role of Endogenous Opioid and Opioid Receptors in Central Nervous System Injury.- 44 Opioids: Epilepsy and Neuroprotection.- 45 Opioids in Immunologic Processes.- 46 Effect of Opioids on the Spontaneous Behavior of Animals.- 47 Involvement of Opioid Peptides in Learning and Memory.- 48 Establishing Correlations Between the Pharmacodynamic Characteristics of Opioid Agonists and Their Behavioral Effects.- Section F: Neuroendocrinology.- 49 Opioid Peptides in the Regulation of Anterior Pituitary Hormones.- 50 Opioids and the Neuroendocrine Control of Reproduction.- 51 Opioids in the Neurohypophysial System.- 52 Opioids Peptide Expression in Peripheral Tissues and Its Functional Implications.- Section G: Reinforcement - Tolerance/Dependence.- 53 Opioid Tolerance and Physical Dependence and Their Relationship.- 54 Opioid Tolerance/Dependence in Isolated Organs.- 55 Opioid Abuse Liability Assessment in Rhesus Monkeys.- 56 Motivational Effects of Opioids.- Section H: Clinical Aspects.- 57 CSF Opioids in Pathophysiology.- 58 Circulating Opioids in Man.- 59 Opioid Analgesics in Clinical Pain Management.-60 Opioids in Operative Anesthesia.- 61 ?-Endorphin in Human Reproduction.- 62 Opioids in the Etiology and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders.- 63 Opioid Addiction.