This volume presents lecture notes from the session of the International School of Pharmacology, at the "Ettore Majorana" Centre, on Advances in Prostaglandins that took place in Erice (Sicily), October 4 to October 15, 1976. The School was a NATO Advanced Study Institute. The aim of this international course was a compre hensive discussion by experts in various disciplines of the present status of our knowledge of the biological role of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. The synthesis, metabolism, and function of prosta glandins have been evaluated at the cellular level, in isolated tissues, and/or in the intact organism. The mode of action of prostaglandins and their interactions, particularly with cyclic nucleotides, in normal and pathological conditions, has been discussed with the aim of understanding the possible role of these compounds in hormonal regulation and cell response. The prostaglandin biosynthetic capacity of different tissues, under various experimental conditions, in the presence of specific precursors, and the inhibitory ac tivity of different agents have been examined to ascer tain the relationship between function and metabolism. For these reasons the discussion has also been extended to the methods (biological, immunological, and spectrometric) available for the direct and specific determination of prostaglandins and the evaluation of their synthesis and metabolism. The Editors hope that the book will be useful both to beginners and to those with a long-time interest in prostaglandins. F. Berti B. Samuelsson G. P. Velo v CONTENTS Chemistry of Prostaglandins and Thromboxanes . .

Inhalt
Chemistry of Prostaglandins and Thromboxanes.- Some Synthetic Aspects of Prostaglandins.- Prostaglandin Bioassay.- Radioimmunoassays of Prostaglandins and Thromboxanes.- Vapor-Phase Methods for Quantitative Evaluation of Prostaglandins and Related Compounds in Biological Samples.- Biosynthesis of Prostaglandins.- Metabolism of Prostaglandins.- Screening for Inhibitors of Prostaglandin and Thromboxane Biosynthesis.- Prostaglandin Synthetase Inhibitors.- Respiratory System (General Introduction).- Generation of Prostaglandin and Thromboxane-like Substances by Large Airways and Lung Parenchyma.- Clinical Effects of the Prostaglandins on the Respiratory System.- Aspirin-Sensitive Asthma: Its Relationship to Inhibition of Prostaglandin Biosynthesis.- Physiological Roles of Prostaglandins in Reproduction.- Clinical Use of Prostaglandins for Termination of Pregnancy and Induction of Labour.- to Circulatory System.- Polypeptides: Vascular Actions as Modified by Prostaglandins.- Prostaglandins and Vascular Wall.- The Role of Prostaglandins in Gastrointestinal Tone and Motility.- Effect of Prostaglandins on Gastrointestinal Functions.- Antisecretory Prostaglandins and Gastric Mucosal Erosions in the Rat.- The Role of Prostaglandins and Cyclic Nucleotides in Inflammation.- Prostaglandins and Mast Cell Histamine Release.- Prostaglandins and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.- Influence of Anti-Inflammatory Steroids on Prostaglandin and Thromboxane Release from Tissues.- Influence of Prostaglandins on Central Functions.- Prostaglandins as Modulators of Autonomic Neuroeffector Transmission.- Inflammatory Pain and Fever.- List of Contributors.